Frequently Asked Questions

• Who Can Join the Group?

  From the 9th June the Group will be open to Landlords, Property Developers, Tradespeople, Contractors and Interior Designers.

• How much is membership to The Private Landlords Buying Group (PLBG)?

  Membership to PLBG for the 1st year is £33.33 + VAT (£40.00) subsequent years are just £16.67 + VAT (£20.00)
  
  With the rates that we have secured, the savings gained can be significantly more than the membership costs in just one purchase.
  
  Access to the Buying Group rates from our supply chain means you can benchmark rates you have obtained yourself so you know you are getting the best price.

• Why join The Private Landlords Buying Group?

  PLBG gives landlords, Property developers, Tradespeople, Contractors and Interior Designers transparent access to thousands of products at ‘Contract Rates’ from national suppliers for just £40 for the 1st year and £20 for subsequent years regardless of how many properties you own or manage.
  
  We support you by obtaining quotations from suppliers for you to consider whether this be for aggregate, paint, plastering materials, plant, flooring all the way up to FAKRO Roof Windows.
  
  We are passionate about helping all our members and we want you to benefit from the supply chain we have created.

• Can I speak with someone to understand how the The Private Landlords Buying Group group works?

  Yes, you can call Pete on 07508 000 814 or email ps@buy-g.co.uk to arrange a call back.
  
  Pete formed the group to replicate EEM, a public sector consortia which he formed in 2010 which supported 150 authorities to buy their materials better.
  
  The Private Landlords Buying Group uses the same model as EEM as this was tried and tested so if you want to know more, please get in contact with Pete.

• What credentials / experience do you have as a Procurement Agent?

  I (Pete) have over 40 years in the trade starting as a bricklayer and moving into various Management positions linked to the construction industry.
  in 2004 I became the Head of Procurement for Nottingham City Homes which had over 28,000 properties before the Homes and Communities asked me to form a Public Sector Consortia.
  In 2011 I formed EEM from nothing, www,eem.org.uk. EEM grew into a national buying group for the public sector with £150 million throughput and 122 Councils served. I am proud to say that during my time as CEO, I gave away nearly £1.5 million to communities and Charities. PLBG uses the same model as EEM.

• Which are your main suppliers? and how do I see the rates?

  We have dozens of suppliers but the main ones that members use include: -
  Huws Gray, Jewson, City Plumbing Supplies, Edmundson, Travis Perkins, Johnstones Trade Paints, Brewers Decorating Warehouse, Trade Choice Carpets, Vent-Axia, nuaire, Wren Contracts, Kitchen Kit, and many many more.
  
  Members can see rates upon joining via the website, we also give you access to a Google Shared Drive both of which contains the latest rates from some of our key suppliers, you can see how transparent the pricing is.
  
  If you don't see what you are looking for, ask us to help and get you a quotation.

• I have an Account with Travis Perkins, can I use this to get the Groups Prices?

  Regrettably we cannot link accounts with Travis Perkins anymore, we link Jewson, Huws Gray and City Plumbing accounts.

• How long does membership last for?

  Membership is annual, the 1st year's Membership is £40.00 including VAT, and subsequent years are reduced to £20.00.
  
  This is a subscription through PayPal and you can cancel via PayPal at any time.
  
  You get instant access to the website containing rates, the Heating and Kitchens Trade Account and the Google Shared Drive within 24 working hours,
  
  If you want to cancel, please go to your PayPal account and cancel the subscription.

• How many properties do I need to be a member?

  As long as you are a landlord, Property Developer, Tradesperson, Contractor or Interior Designer you don't need to have a specific number of properties, we are just happy to support you in making savings.

• How will membership to The Private Landlords Buying Group (PLBG) benefit me?

  There are many benefits we can offer.
  
  Membership will give you transparent access to price files containing thousands of products from our supply chain ranging from aggregates to roof windows, including paints, carpets and beds.
  
  We have agreed on rates with many merchants, you are able to use our cash account, and we can support you in setting up a credit account, on some merchants we can overlay our terms on your account so you need not do anything different apart from benefit or we can purchase on your behalf and invoice you.
  
  We aim to provide choice and flexibility, is there is something you can't find, then we will help you and obtain quotations.

• Do I have the right to cancel my membership to The Private Landlords Buying Group (PLBG)?

  Yes, by law you have the right to a 14-day cooling-off period where you can cancel your membership where your membership has not been used.
  
  However for the small outlay, we believe that you will make savings, we want your investment in us to realise many benefits.
  
  If you do cancel, then please cut up your membership card and notify us this has been done. A full refund will be made following a 60-day (2 calendar months) verification period to check that any transactions have not been made or benefits shared.

• Is my spend monitored at all?

  No, we do not monitor your spend at all,
  We just want you to make the most of your Membership, whilst it may be only £20 for subsequent years, we want you to benefit from all the savings available and we hope that the saving on paint alone should be enough to cover the membership fee.

• Can I see the material rates from merchants

  Yes, The rates are shown on the website under 'Services', also for std products you can see these through www.heatingandkitchens.co.uk and we give members access to a Google Shared Drive that contains files with merchants rates.
  
  Whilst we have thousands of rates, often we do not have the specific product that members require, in these instances, we go out to the supply chain to obtain competitive quotations.
  
  As a group and a background of supporting the Public Sector, we only supply quality products, mostly branded with long warranties such as Ideal and Twyford at discounted and affordable rates, we want to ensure that you have access to UK support so that in the case of failures in the future, spares are available.
  
  We do not believe in supplying cheap as often this creates problems for our members in the future, so we do not profess to be the cheapest in all cases, what we want to provide is quality with long warranties from tried and tested manufacturers supported by a great merchant base.

• How do I pay for the products and get The Private Landlords Buying Group’s (PLBG) prices?

  The most beneficial way for members is to have their own account with Huws Gray or City Plumbing Supplies, we can overlay the Groups Rates on your account.
  
  As a member you will automatically be created a Trade Account with Heating and Kitchens giving you instant savings.
  
  As part of the service, we obtain you quotes so you can be sure of what you are going to pay, if the quote is acceptable we send you a secure link where you can pay by BACS.
  
  Where we can, cash accounts have been set up so you can pay over the counter and receive the group's terms. Again, we will get you a quotation so you can take this to the Branch.

• Can I access The Private Landlords Buying Group rates even though I have an account with one of the The Private Landlords Buying Groups suppliers?

  Yes, we can overlay the The Private Landlords Buying Group’s terms on your account, all we require is an email from you requesting this and advising us of your account number and we will do the rest.
  
  Currently, this is applied to City Plumbing and Huws Gray, More merchants are being added so please ask to see if we can help you more.

• I am a regular buyer of materials; can I open a credit account with a supplier?

  Yes, however we are only able to do this with Huws gray and City Plumbing Supplies .
  
  if you email
  with the supplier of choice, we will send you a supplier credit agreement.
  
  Most will accept a scanned copy from us so return your completed application form to us and we will support you in getting the account set up correctly with the correct terms.
  
  If the merchant approves your application, you will be able to access The Private Landlords Buying Group’s contract rates and benefit from the credit period that they offer and also the ability to pay the merchant by credit card.

• Which Kitchen manufacturer does The Buying Group use?

  In short our main suppliers are Kitchen Kit and Wren Contracts, which will depend on when you need the kitchen and flatpack or rigid.
  
  If you do not have a Howdens account, then we notify Howdens to contact you so you get our discount. You will work with Howdens to agree on a design and quote and place the order.
  You then pay Howdens directly before delivery. If you have a Howdens account already then I suggest you use that.
  
  The vast majority of our member landlords use the KitchenKit kitchens that use the innovative ClicBox units. The rates are lower than Trade and as a guide are normally 15% lower than Toolstation and other large suppliers.
  
  We provide a quote based on your requirements, place the order and agree on delivery. Delivery is normally 3 working days from when the order is placed.
  KitchenKit units are easy to build (no tools) and come in three ranges, slab, J-Pull (handleless) and shaker doors. The colours are modern so your kitchen will look quality, the units come with a 25-year warranty and the doors with a 6-year warranty.
  
  For Rigid kitchens we use WREN Contracts, these are extremely competitive and better than Trade, we suggest allow a week for design and 10 working days for delivery.
  
  For more information and email ps@buy-g.co.uk

• Can I buy white goods and cooking appliances through The Buying Group?

  Yes, The Buying Group use AO.com Curry's and Hughes Trade Appliances.
  
  As part of the quick reference guide, the contact names along with the supplier's contact details are listed so you can access discounts almost immediately.
  
  The process is simple, you call our contact, and if the deal they offer is acceptable then you pay them directly and arrange delivery.

• Where can I buy electrical products from and get The Buying Groups discounts?

  We have accounts set up at Edmundsons, but it is worth noting that City Plumbing Supplies offers a great range of electrical products at low prices.
  
  We also use Electrorad for HHR electric radiators.
  .

• Where can I buy my Plumbing and Heating products from?

  The group has accounts set up with both Travis Perkins and City Plumbing Supplies for the majority of products
  
  You can use your membership to obtain the group's rates via a cash account or use your credit account when it has been linked to the Buying Group, alternatively, we can order on your behalf and invoice you.
  
  The cash-account numbers are provided in a quick reference sheet provided to you within 24 working hours of joining if you can't wait that long, then email ps@buy-g.co.uk or call Pete on 07508 000 814 and I would be happy to help.

• What Boiler Makes available through The Buying Group?

  The Buying Group are mainly supported by Ideal Boilers where members receive either extended warranties, cash-back or both.
  
  We are able to obtain all the other manufacturer's boilers at discounted rates from the top suppliers including City Plumbing and Huws Gary

• How do I pay the membership fee to join The Private Landlords Buying Group (PLBG)?

  We use PayPal to set the account up so that the payment is secure, however, if you do not like PayPal then please let us know and we can raise a VAT invoice for membership.

• Can I pay my membership by BACS?

  Yes, if you email Pete at ps@buy-g.co.uk, we can create a VAT invoice and email that to you with our bank details.
  
  Just let us know when you have paid and we will generate you a membership number and send you a link to the member's shared drive so you can start saving.

• What do I have to provide to be a member of The Private Landlords Buying Group (PLBG)?

  Very little information is required to be a member, we want all to benefit from the savings members benefit from.
  
  Membership is almost instant, sign up and you will receive your Membership Number by email with your Membership number.
  
  Between 6.00 am and 2.00 pm on weekdays, you will receive an email detailing more information, it will also have an attachment containing cash accounts so you can benefit straight away.

• I have forgotten my password, what do I do?

  If you have forgotten your password then click on the "Reset Password" password link on the login page. If you have any problems email us and we will send you a link to create a new password.

• How do I change my password?

  Once you are logged in, simply click the "My Details" link in the account menu. From here, you can change your password.