Our authors
Sally Walmsley Magazine and Digital Editor
Sally is the Magazine and Digital Editor for the NRLA. With 20 years’ experience writing for regional and national newspapers and magazines she is responsible for editing our members' magazine 'Property', producing our articles for our news site, the weekly and monthly bulletins and editorial content for our media partners.
Victoria Barker Communications Officer
Victoria is the Communications Officer for the NRLA.
She is responsible for producing articles for our news centre, the weekly e-newsletter, and manages and creates content for the association’s social media channels. She also contributes to our members magazine, Property.
Ben Beadle Chief Executive
Ben is the Chief Executive of the NRLA.
Prior to taking up his position at the NRLA, Ben was the operations director at Touchstone, part of the Places for People housing group, and was also the managing director of a leading deposit scheme in Northern Ireland. Ben is also a landlord.
Chris Norris Director of Policy and Practice
Chris Norris is responsible for policy and campaigns at the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), having held a similar role at the NLA prior to its recent merger.
A private landlord and former letting agent himself, Chris has represented landlords for more than a decade, joining the NLA’s policy team in early 2007.
Before discovering the fun that can be had focussing on the PRS, Chris held a number of inhouse and consultancy public affairs roles focussing on housing, health, and social care.
John Stewart Deputy Director of Policy and Research
John is the Deputy Director of Policy and Research for the NRLA. He has over 20 years experience working in politics, as a successful election agent, MP’s assistant, local councillor and council leader, and is a former charity chief executive.
He oversees NRLA policy work across all levels of government – central, devolved and local – working to ensure that landlords’ views are represented and officials, MPs, Assembly Members and local councillors have key information and evidence about the PRS before they take decisions.
Meera Chindooroy Deputy Director of Campaigns, Public Affairs & Policy
Meera is Deputy Director of Campaigns, Public Affairs & Policy at the NRLA. She joined the National Landlords Association (NLA) in May 2018, having previously worked in both policy development and project management for a range of not-for-profit and public sector organisations. Meera provides political insight both internally and for NRLA members, and lobbies in their best interests. Meera has extensive experience of building partnerships with stakeholders across communities, civil society and government, as well as developing collaborative approaches to policy challenges.
Prior to joining to the NLA, Meera provided policy and engagement support to the chief executive of the Big Lottery Fund, the UK’s biggest community funder. She also developed strategic policy at the General Medical Council, the regulator of doctors in the UK.
James Wood Policy Manager
James Wood, LLB, is the NRLA’s Policy Manager. James has provided legally sound advice to thousands of landlords for over 6 years, along with producing the organisation’s guides and documents and training the organisation’s highly rated advice service.
Tim Thomas Welsh Policy Officer
Tim Thomas is the Welsh Policy Officer for the NRLA. With almost fifteen years’ experience in policy and research roles in local authorities and the third sector, Tim specialises in policy development in the Welsh Private Rented Sector. Tim also leads on the NRLA’s energy efficiency and welfare and benefits policy brief, including lobbying the government on improving the environment for landlords who let to tenants in receipt of Universal Credit.
Calum Davies Welsh Policy & Public Affairs Officer
Calum Davies is the NRLA’s Welsh Policy & Public Affairs Officer. After working in communications and research for a political party in the Welsh Parliament, he moved to the NRLA to promote the work of the Association to members, politicians, and stakeholders in Wales. He ensures they are aware of landlord interests when they legislate and regulate in the PRS, helps run the Cardiff Landlord Forum, and develops policy and organises events for NRLA Wales.
Nick Clay Research Officer
Nick Clay MSc, PgDip is the lead Research Officer for the NRLA. He previously worked for the RLA where he introduced the Landlord Confidence Index. Nick takes responsibility for the Research Observatory's content and rigorous approach to data analysis. He is a Certified Member of the Market Research Society.
Nick was formerly a Senior Economist for a multi-national consultancy. He has expertise in business support and entrepreneurship. He has written academic research, undertaken evaluations and developed strategies for business support organisations across England & Wales.
Aidan Crehan Research Assistant
Aidan Crehan is the Research Assistant for the NRLA. Aidan is a politics graduate who has previously worked with Northern Ireland's Department for Communities, specifically focusing on community reconciliation projects. Aidan works closely on the NRLA's various research outputs, looking at issues such as possession, regulation, and enforcement.
Our contributors
Paul Shamplina Founder of Landlord Action and Chief Commercial Officer of Hamilton Fraser
Involved in the legal system since 1987 - specialising in landlord/tenant disputes. As a certified bailiff he acted for landlords across the country. He is the recognised expert and is often featured on TV, Radio and in the press. Paul hates to see injustice and he campaigns for the good of all landlords. He is on your side. Or he’s just infront - making sure you’re protected.
Dr David Smith Legal Counsel, NRLA
David is the NRLA’s Legal Counsel and was the RLA’s Policy Director. David specialises in residential property rights and agency and has experience of a wide range of property litigation. David is a Partner at JMW Solicitors.
Kate Faulkner Founder of Property Checklists
Kate Faulkner is one of the UK’s leading property experts. Through her free website, Propertychecklists.co.uk, she provides consumers with independent advice on how to buy, sell, rent, invest, renovate, maintain or build a property. She has written six property books and, each month, summarises what’s happening to property prices and rents.
A respected commentator, presents at industry conferences and makes frequent media appearances, including on BBC Breakfast News, Your Money, GMTV, ITV, Radio 4 and 5 Live.
Bill Irvine Universal Credit Consultant
Bill has quickly become known as a very effective Welfare Rights Advocate. He has been involved in most of the major social security changes since the early 80’s when Housing Benefit was first introduced. As well as offering advice and assistance to landlords, primarily in the RSL/PRS sectors, he also provides representation when disputes can’t be resolved through negotiation and where they have to be progressed through the formal tribunal process, initially to First Tier and, if necessary, through to Upper Tier level where some of his cases have proved to be of national importance to disadvantaged groups.
Christine Whitehead Emeritus Professor in Housing Economics at the London School of Economics
Christine Whitehead is Emeritus Professor in Housing Economics at the London School of Economics. She is an internationally respected applied economist concentrating mainly in the fields of housing economics, finance and policy. Major research themes have included analysis of regulation and rented housing, the role of private renting in the UK and Europe and European models of housing finance.
Caroline Elgar Policy Manager, SAL
Caroline joined SAL in the role of policy manager in 2014. Before this, she had nearly 15 years’ experience working in the lettings industry, primarily in senior letting agency roles. Caroline has played a key part in SAL’s policy work on tenancy reform and has represented SAL in parliament and on a number of government working groups.
Doug Hall Director 3mc
Doug Hall is a director of 3mc; a specialist mortgage provider within the buy-to-let sector. 3mc have been established for over 21 years working with lenders, mortgage intermediaries and the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) providing all types of buy-to-let mortgage solutions.
Steve Barnes Associate Director, Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance
Steve Barnes has worked with landlords and leading landlord associations for over 20 years and oversees Hamilton Fraser's property insurance division. Our award winning landlord insurance offering, Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance, has been providing comprehensive cover for landlords since 1996. Whether you have a single property or a portfolio, Total Landlord Insurance has a property insurance policy that will give you value for money and the required protection to support your business requirements. Our dedicated claims team of expert advisers deal with more than 82% of claims in-house and provide customers with a sole point of contact should the worst happen. Named 'Best Landlord Insurance Provider' for an unprecedented three years in a row and with a Trustscore rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands.
Jack Vlasto Head of Business Development, Rentguard Insurance
Jack oversees the business development team at Rentguard; he has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the Landlord Property insurance sector. Jack has been at Rentguard for over a decade. Jack’s key responsibility is to ensure that quality products and services are delivered to NRLA members.
Sandy Bastin Head of TDS Adjudication Services
Sandy Bastin is a qualified solicitor with many years’ experience practising and specialising in real estate, Sandy joined Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) in 2008 and is now Head of TDS Adjudication Services. Sandy is responsible for recruiting and training TDS adjudicators, providing continued support and mentoring to include quality assurance activity to ensure the high standards expected from TDS adjudication decisions are met.
Chris O'Leary Deputy Director of Policy Evaluation and Research, Manchester Metropolitan University
Chris is a specialist in public policy and is Deputy Director of the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University. Chris has over fifteen years of experience in research and consultancy, gained both in the private and university sectors.
Dr Tom Simcock Research Fellow, Edge Hill University
Tom's expertise lies in researching change in society and public policy. Tom’s research on housing has received national media coverage, featuring on the front page of The Times, has influenced government policy making, and has been cited in debates in the House of Commons, House of Lords and by the London Mayor. Following a spell as a member of the RLA's research team, Tom now works for Edge Hill University.