Greater Manchester Combined Authority has just launched the UK’s first ever Good Landlord Charter, and is urging landlords to sign up.
In a bid to raise living standards for tenants in both the private and social rented sector in the Greater Manchester area, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has announced the opening of the new Good Landlord Charter, which is expected to see the region lead the way when it comes to renting.
At the moment, the scheme is fully voluntary, and private and social landlords are encouraged to sign up to “commit to higher standards than they are currently required to by law”. The first of its kind in the country, the charter is aimed at protecting tenants and boosting the quality of accommodation on offer.
Some big landlords in the area have already committed their involvement, bringing potentially tens of thousands of tenants under the protection of the Good Landlord Charter – but landlords with any portfolio size, or even single-property landlords, can sign up.
The benefit for landlords who commit to the charter is that they can show prospective tenants their commitment to higher standards, with tenants using the charter to find their next property, therefore increasing interest for the landlord and their property.
Criteria for the Good Landlord Charter
There are 21 points that each landlord must meet to qualify to join the Good Landlord Charter, which are intended to go beyond the minimum standard required by law in the rental sector.
The criteria are based around the following core principles:
- Affordable to run – e.g. properties meet EPC C as a minimum
- Inclusive – e.g. make or facilitate reasonable adaptations to properties, where needed
- Private and secure – e.g. tenants able to make reasonable changes to their home
- Responsive – e.g. published, timely target response times
- Safe and decent – e.g. any work/repairs done by a qualified or competent tradesperson
- Supportive – e.g. a commitment to refer tenants at risk of homelessness to council
- Well managed – e.g. landlord must be able to demonstrate accreditation or training
Pioneering new deal
The Good Landlord Charter has been described as a “pioneering new deal for renters and landlords.” It is an extension to the legal Decent Homes Standard that covers the social housing sector, which is currently under review.
Early registration by landlords is being encouraged by GMCA as these landlords will get to work with a new independent Charter Implementation Unit to help put the Good Landlord Charter into practice. This will include helping to develop the support offer for landlords and the approach to assessment.
A statement read: “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.”
More houses, better quality
At the same time as introducing the Good Landlord Charter, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has also pledged to build more than the area’s expected share of the government’s housebuilding target of 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.
According to the mayor, Greater Manchester will expand by 75,000 new homes during the time frame, which is a third more than the region’s share of the national target.
This will include around 10,000 “truly affordable net-zero homes“, and the plans have received the backing of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who is the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester.
In a statement, Mr 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.”
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.”
