Greater Manchester plans for tackling the housing crisis
A groundbreaking initiative for renters and landlords in the UK is set to transform the rental sector with the introduction of the Good Landlord Charter, as announced by Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. This charter aims to significantly raise standards within the rental market while also supporting a broader agenda to deliver thousands of new homes across the region.
The initiative is part of an ambitious plan to construct 75,000 new homes during the next parliamentary term, with 10,000 of these homes specifically designated as affordable net-zero properties. This target is crucial in contributing to the national objective of building 1.5 million homes. To achieve this, a new partnership with the UK Government is being proposed, which would grant Greater Manchester greater flexibility over funding and enhanced capacity to accelerate the construction of new homes, including much-needed social housing.
The joint development strategy, called “Places for Everyone,” has already identified key locations across Greater Manchester where the bulk of these new homes and the necessary infrastructure can be efficiently delivered. This plan is a cornerstone of the region’s approach to meeting the housing needs of its growing population.
In Greater Manchester, it is estimated that around 23 percent of privately rented homes—approximately 56,000—fail to meet the legal Decent Homes Standard. However, experts believe the actual number is likely higher, as many tenants living in substandard or unsafe conditions may not feel confident enough to file complaints or may not know how to do so. This highlights the urgent need for reform and the importance of the Good Landlord Charter in addressing these issues.
Andy Burnham has emphasized that the Good Landlord Charter is designed not only to empower renters by providing them with more rights and protections but also to recognize and support landlords who consistently exceed the basic legal requirements. One of the key features of the Charter is the introduction of a new right to a Property Check, which will allow tenants to verify that their homes meet the necessary standards, thus ensuring safer and more secure living conditions.
Landlords and letting agents who are interested in participating in this transformative initiative can register their interest by visiting greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk The Good Landlord Charter will be open to all residential landlords, whether they are social or private, charitable or profit-making entities. The Charter offers two levels of participation: Member and Supporter. The Member level is for landlords who already meet the Charter’s standards, while the Supporter level is for those who are committed to working towards full membership status.
This comprehensive approach aims not only to improve housing standards but also to foster a culture of responsibility and excellence within the rental sector, ultimately benefiting both tenants and landlords across Greater Manchester.
Greg Williams, Head of Business Development at Compariqo, said: “Seeing plans like this to tackle large issues like the housing crisis is excellent, and the efforts of the mayor are vital to the completion of this”
“Compariqo is fully behind social housing schemes like this and are committed to providing our expert support in such endeavours. Big or small Compariqo is here to help, even for projects of a size and scope as large as this one”.
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