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The Residential Landlords Association has launched a new series of web-based courses for private rented sector landlords.

Introduced by TV property celebrity Phil Spencer, the online learning programme contains 18 modules covering basic skills in tenancy management - from tenancy agreements, planning permission and building regulations and fire safety, rent arrears and possession orders.

The certificate courses are the latest major development in 10 years of traditional classroom training that the RLA has staged, with local authorities, using the Accreditation Network UK manual – one of the most comprehensive sources of reference for landlords.

But now the online training goes beyond that to combine video, audio, factsheets and text as well as links to the RLA's vast resource of over 20,000 web pages containing reference material and documentation.

The content has been specially developed and written by the association's team of trainers and legal experts together with specialist distance learning programmers. All written material can be printed to provide a personalised reference manual. And audio can be downloaded as MP3 files.

A major advantage of the Internet course is that updating is quick and simple. Subscribers can check back, any time after completing the programme, and still get the latest advice on more than 80 pieces of legislation affecting the lettings market.

The modules can be done from anywhere in the world and the series of video presentations means that it's no problem to repeat a section. Other features include multi-choice tests and quick quizzes, to check participants' progress, and a discussion forum enabling them to share questions and answers.

"Over the last decade the Residential Landlords Association has trained thousands of landlords and been recognised as a leading provider of the most informative practical training available," says Alan Ward, chairman of the RLA - whose members own over 100,000 private rented properties throughout the UK.

"And our trainers have been involved in developing industry-standard material, such as the ANUK training manual. So now we are bringing together all this up-to-date knowledge about the letting business in England and Wales to create a more readily available RLA Online Learning Centre.

"It's part of our overall service to members and other landlords. But more knowledgeable and professional landlords are also an essential part of our commitment to self regulation within the private rented sector as a practical alternative to rising levels of government legislation."