“Greater Manchester is ready to build”: Mayor steps up housing ambition and unveils landlord charter

• Mayor Andy Burnham says Greater Manchester is ready to deliver 75,000 new homes in this parliament, supporting national target of 1.5 million
• UK-first Good Landlord Charter set to tackle poor housing, empowering tenants and recognising best practice in private and social sectors
• Expressions of interest open now for landlords to be part of the Charter

Greater Manchester is stepping up its plans to tackle the housing crisis by delivering new homes and improving standards in the rental sector with a pioneering new deal for renters and landlords.

Today (Friday 12 July), Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is announcing an offer to the Government that, with their support, Greater Manchester will set an ambitious target of building 75,000 new homes over the course of the next parliament – a third more than our share of the 1.5 million national target.

At the same time, Greater Manchester is pioneering a new approach to empowering renters, recognising best practice, and driving up standards in the private and social rented sectors, with the UK’s first Good Landlord Charter.

Good, safe, and affordable housing should be at the heart of any community, and is the foundation for sustainable economic growth and productivity – and Greater Manchester is going further than ever before in our efforts the tackle the housing crisis.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

“Our message to the new government is: Greater Manchester is ready to build. We have a comprehensive plan for new homes and growth, connected by an integrated transport system in the Bee Network.

“But we know that new homes on their own won’t solve the housing crisis. Without good, safe housing, people cannot achieve their potential, and places cannot deliver growth.

“That’s why the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter will put power back into the hands of renters, along with developing a new right to a Property Check, while supporting and recognising the landlords who go above and beyond.”

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

“Regional mayors like Andy Burnham are central to our pledge to build 1.5 million homes over this Parliament. We are working in lock step with them to boost growth in every part of this country, giving them new powers get homes built and deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

 “I’m completely behind Andy’s mission to build more affordable homes, and his support for renters. We will overhaul the private rented sector giving millions of tenants more security in their homes.”

Ready to build

To support the Government’s national target of building 1.5 million homes over the course of the parliament, Greater Manchester is aiming to build 75,000 of them here in our city-region. This will include a plan to government for at least 10,000 truly affordable net-zero homes, helping to address the wider issues around affordable and supported homes at the heart of the housing crisis.

As part of this offer, Greater Manchester is proposing a new partnership with Government that would see greater flexibility over funding and capacity to accelerate the supply of new homes – including new social homes.

Greater Manchester’s joint development plan – Places for Everyone – has already identified the locations where the majority of new homes and infrastructure can be delivered across the city-region, and means that, with the right backing from Government, we are ready to get building.

A new approach to renting

Alongside building new homes, Greater Manchester is now ready to launch our groundbreaking Good Landlord Charter – the first of its kind in the country, setting a clear, high set of standards that will give confidence to tenants and support landlords to raise the quality of renting across the city-region.

Throughout Greater Manchester around 23 per cent (56,000) of private rented homes and just under 17 per cent (82,000) of all rented homes are estimated not to meet the legal Decent Homes Standard – with the real figure expected to be higher given tenants in unsafe homes often feel unable to raise complaints.

To tackle the crisis of poor housing, the Good Landlord Charter is based on seven core principles of good renting:

• Affordable – tenants should understand how their rent and other charges are set and should not be overcharged.
• Safe and decent – tenants should be able to live free from physical or psychological discomfort in their home.
• Responsive – landlords should respond satisfactorily to requests for repairs, correspondence and complaints.
• Well managed – landlords or managing agents should be competent.
• Inclusive – no tenant should have a worse experience because of who they are.
• Private and secure – tenants should be free to enjoy their home and make it their own.
• Supportive – tenants should have essential information and extra support if required.

From today, landlords will be able to register their interest in participating in the Charter by visiting: Good Landlord Charter - Greater Manchester Combined Authority (greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk)

Landlords who register early will work with a new independent Charter Implementation Unit to put the charter into practice, developing the support offer for landlords and the approach to assessment.

The Charter will be open to all residential landlords, whether social or private, charitable or profit-making, and will offer two levels of participation: Member, and – for those working towards membership status – Supporter.

The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter has been developed over the past year in partnership with local renters, private and social landlords, trade bodies, and industry experts.

Alongside the Charter, Greater Manchester is also boosting enforcement capacity with a right to a Property Check for all renters, carried out local expert teams and followed up with action where necessary.

Cllr Ged Cooney, Greater Manchester Lead for Housing, said:

“Getting housing right is a big challenge – but one that is essential to delivering lasting change and sustainable growth for our people and places.

“Today Greater Manchester is showing that we are up to that challenge, with an ambitious offer to deliver new homes and a trailblazing Good Landlord Charter that will give confidence to renters and recognise the good landlords – all backed up by a strengthened package of enforcement measures.”

Article Published: 12/07/2024 10:43 AM