A NEW generation of housing officers is hitting the streets of Greater Manchester ready to crack down on poor housing, as part of plans to bolster local teams and empower renters.
Thirteen new housing enforcement apprentices – with at least one in every district – have now completed their training and will join the council teams checking rental properties across the city-region and bringing enforcement action against bad landlords.
It’s part of Greater Manchester’s plans to boost local capacity and deliver the UK’s first Good Landlord Charter, as Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham announced today that the Charter will be up and running in May 2025.
The Charter sits alongside the Mayor’s vision for a new Property Check system for renters to sound the alarm about poor housing conditions. The proposals would see residents in substandard rented homes able to request a check, carried out by local teams, and followed up by enforcement action where necessary.
A £150,000 pilot of the scheme, which will look at how a multi-agency approach across the public sector can support the Property Check system, is set to take place in Salford.
It comes as Greater Manchester gets ready for the Government’s Renters’ Rights Bill, which – if passed – would introduce new protections for tenants, and give councils new responsibilities for enforcement action.
The Renters’ Rights Bill includes a commitment to introduce Awaab’s Law, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who lost his life in Rochdale because of unacceptably poor housing conditions. Awaab’s Law would set a legal deadline by which landlords would be required to fix serious health hazards in their properties.
Following decades of pressure on public services, and the devastating consequences of poor-quality housing writ large, Greater Manchester is taking action to strengthen local teams and call for a new national approach to housing – one that recognises a good home as an essential right, and the foundation of a healthy life.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“For years now, local councils have been left reeling by a combination of growing pressures and squeezed resources. With this new generation of enforcement officers we are stepping up and strengthening local enforcement teams, so that we can do more to crack down on bad housing practices.
“Whether you own or rent, your home should not do you harm – it should set you up to thrive. That is why we’re taking action to drive up standards with our Good Landlord Charter, which will come into effect from May next year, and empower tenants with a right to a Property Check, followed up with enforcement action.
“It’s also why we’re pleased to see that the Government has committed to bring forward Awaab’s Law as part of new legislation, and we pay tribute to his family and everyone here who campaigned to make that happen.
“Make no mistake – the days of housing being treated as a quick money-making opportunity with no responsibility attached are coming to an end in Greater Manchester.”
Greater Manchester’s UK-first Good Landlord Charter, set to be up and running in May 2025, will set out a clear vision for better renting in the city-region, based on criteria including affordability, inclusivity, safety, and how responsive a landlord is to requests for repairs and maintenance.
The Good Landlord Charter has been developed with local authorities, housing providers, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and tenants’ groups. The GMCA is now accepting expressions of interest from landlords to be accredited as part of the Charter, and later this month a provider will be appointed to run the implementation process ahead of full rollout next year.
As well as the 13 new enforcement officers, the GMCA has also funded a total of 27 officers, including the apprentices, to complete their diploma qualifications, and 162 officers to upskill with training.
The GMCA has also invested £250,000 to set up a team of legal experts that will provide advocacy and support to renters, and help local teams to identify chances to intervene when tenants are at risk of harassment or illegal eviction.
