Agent members of the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) can now use a free legal helpline supplied by London and South of England legal firm Moore Blatch.

NALS says the move is designed to help letting agents tackle the 145 Acts of Parliament, health and safety requirements and 100s of regulations that now apply to the private rental sector.

Agents can access the legal helpline both on the phone or via email between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday, and will be offered advice and support by Moore Blatch’s team of specialist landlord and tenant lawyers.

As well as the helpline, NALS members will be able to use a full range of standard documents, an online service that automates Section 8 and Section 21 notices covering possession, eviction and debt recovery.

There will also be a separate and what NALS describes as a ‘simple’ system that will enable agents to produce legally-enforceable notices, letters and court documents on a solicitor’s headed paper.

“There’s no doubt it’s a challenging time for agents, and we want to be able to support our firms in every way possible,” says Isobel Thomson, chief executive of NALS (pictured).

“The legal landscape is constantly changing and at times confusing. The free helpline and additional fixed price services from Moore Blatch offer agents the best legal advice and support, in a simple, cost effective way.”

Moore Blatch attained much of its property services capability after it acquired Richmond-based specialist Saunders & Company in 2013, which at the time was heralded as part of Moore Blatch’s expansion into property services.