Greater Manchester’s so-called Good Landlord Scheme has bagged some £1.47m in fines over two years.
The scheme is described by Greater Manchester Labour Mayor Andy Burnham as “ground breaking” and “raising the quality of homes for tenants as part of a wider effort to rebuild, rewire and restore Greater Manchester’s housing system.”
Over 100 social and private landlords have registered as Supporters of the Charter, covering more than 234,000 homes – that’s 50% of households that rent in the city-region.
A statement from Burnham’s office says: “The Good Landlord Charter will help to set a new standard in renting, supporting landlords to go above and beyond the minimum national standards to provide the very best rental experience for tenants. It also aims to shine a light on those landlords who don’t look after the homes and tenants that they are responsible for.
“It is the first voluntary scheme of its kind across the UK, bringing together leading social housing providers and a growing number of private landlords who have committed to raising standards beyond the legal requirements.
“Since 2024, Greater Manchester has led a crackdown on negligent landlords, increasing the number of enforcement fines for housing offences by 43%, totalling £1.47 million. This is being reinvested into local housing enforcement teams, helping to protect tenants against negligent landlords and poor housing.”
Burnham himself adds: “We are entering a new era for renting in Greater Manchester. We’re making it clear that renting out sub-standard properties, which damage the health of our residents, will no longer be tolerated. This city-region is getting serious about driving up housing standards and delivering on the promise of a good home for everyone.
“We know there are many good landlords out there and the Charter will give them the recognition they deserve. It will also help isolate those who require further attention from our enforcement teams. The £1.47 million of civil penalties our local authorities have issued in the last two years show we’re holding the most negligent landlords to account.
“Together, we’re leading the way in how to build a fairer, stronger housing system and blazing a trail for the rest of the country to follow.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today