Residents across Greater Manchester are set to benefit from improved housing standards, as the Combined Authority embarks on its new plans.
Thanks to a package of measures worth £600,000, tenants are to be supported by work to change the rental system so that it ‘works for people, not against them.’ This will involve clamping down on rogue landlords through the Good Landlord Charter that will be rolled out later this year.
As the first scheme of its kind in the UK, the Charter will cover social and private rented housing as it establishes clear, practical and accessible standards that will improve the quality of rented housing in Greater Manchester. Should landlords not want to work with the Combined Authority to improve standards, property checks are to be introduced, allowing tenants to request a check on the quality of their housing. This can then be followed by enforcement action, should it be necessary.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
“Today we drive forward the next phase of Greater Manchester’s mission to tackle the housing crisis and get serious about housing standards.
“Everyone across our city-region deserves a good, safe, and secure home. It should be the starting point for a good life. It should not damage your health or be a source of concern and anxiety.
“Sadly, too many people in Greater Manchester still find themselves in those situations, trapped in poorly maintained properties and in fear of unlawful eviction. But the days of bad landlords renting out unsafe and unfit homes are coming to an end.
“This new right to a property check for all residents, backed up with new measures to protect renters and take action against rogue landlords, will empower people across Greater Manchester and put us on course to become the UK’s only Housing First city-region.”
According to data from Greater Manchester Combined Authority, around 23% of private rented homes and 17% of all rented homes don’t currently meet the legal Decent Homes Standard, however many tenants find themselves unable to complain due to fears of being evicted. This lack of complaints has led to the combined authority believing that the true number of homes not meeting the standard could be as high as 40%.
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