Industry News
Mayor launches consultation on improving housing conditions for all tenants in Manchester region
M
ayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has launched a consultation on the Greater Manchester Good
Landlord Charter. Te charter is the first of its kind in the country, bringing together landlords and renters to improve the standards of homes in social housing and the private rented sector. It aims to recognise and develop best practice,
boost tenant confidence in the quality of good rental properties and provide an ambitious new voluntary standard for landlord excellence, no matter what kind of housing they let. Te Good Landlord Charter sets out a vision
of better renting, which meets the following characteristics: • Affordable – a tenant should understand how their rent and other charges are set and should not be ripped-off.
• Inclusive – a tenant should not have a worse renting experience because of who they are.
• Private and secure – a tenant should be reasonably free to enjoy their home and make it their own.
• Responsive – a landlord should respond satisfactorily to requests for repairs, correspondence and complaints.
• Safe and decent – a tenant should be able to live free from physical or psychological discomfort in their home.
• Supportive – a tenant should have essential information about renting their home and be helped to access extra support if they need it.
• Well managed – a landlord should be competent or use a competent managing agent.
Te plans for the charter follow a similar model to the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, launched in 2019, which has now engaged with more than a thousand employers across the city-region, helping them go above the bare legal minimum employment offer. Consultation on the draſt charter closes on 26th February. Te Good Landlord Charter will leverage
public funding and other key devolved powers in a similar way. For example, when public bodies are involved in seeking rented homes – such as for use as temporary accommodation – they could require those bidding to sign up to the Charter. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham,
said: “I’m clear that driving up the quality of rented housing is one of my key priorities. We know your home has a huge impact on so many aspects of life, from your physical and mental health, to your safety and security.” “Tis work has, in part, been driven by the devastating conclusions of the inquest that
The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter is the first of its kind in the country, bringing together landlords and renters to improve the standards of homes in social housing and the private rented sector
followed Awaab Ishak’s death. A two-year-old boy died because of the quality of his home, and we recognised this had to be the moment when things changed.” Research commissioned as part of the
development of the Good Landlord Charter found that over 75% of private tenants say accreditation would make a difference to their likelihood of renting from a particular landlord. Te survey also revealed that 75% of private
tenants experienced a maintenance issue in their property within the last year, including 40% that have experienced damp and mould and nearly 33% a broken boiler or heating. When maintenance problems have been experienced, 40% of private tenants have been leſt dissatisfied with the outcome. Residents living in properties where the
landlord refuses to engage with local bodies or the Charter will be empowered with the right to request a Greater Manchester Property Check. Tis will be underpinned by stronger, multi- disciplinary inspection and enforcement capability to carry out the checks and issue notices where standards remain unacceptable,
10 | HMMFebruary/March 2024 |
www.housingmmonline.co.uk
with investment of £3.5million to support local authorities to deliver this. In Greater Manchester’s private rented sector
alone, the Government currently spends more than half a billion pounds annually through the housing element of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, with no assurance about the quality of the homes that landlords are providing. When taking into account social housing as well, that number rises to £1.5bn. In 2019 almost 12% of all homes in Greater
Manchester had a category one hazard – this means a serious and immediate risk to a person’s health and safety – and over 17% did not meet the current Decent Homes Standard. In the private rented sector, 15% of homes had a serious health and safety hazard and over 26% are non-decent. Greater Manchester’s Trailblazer devolution
deal contains a commitment to work with Government to explore how the welfare, housing and health and social care systems can be reconfigured to help drive improvements to the renting experience and the quality of homes in the private rented sector.
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