Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter reaches half of all rented homes

Since launching in April, more than half of all rented homes in Greater Manchester are now covered by the city-region’s Good Landlord Charter.

The charter, the UK’s first, aims to drive up standards across both private and social rented housing in the city-region, and seen more than 100 landlords come forward to become Supporters, accounting for more than 234,000 properties.

The Good Landlord Charter aims to set a new standard in renting, supporting landlords to go above and beyond the minimum national standards 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, and follows a similar structure to the city-region’s Good Employment Charter to drive businesses to improve working conditions.

Alongside the charter, Greater Manchester has also led a crackdown on negligent landlords. Since 2024, it has increased the number of enforcement fines for housing offences by 43%, which now total £1.47 million. Money raised is being reinvested into local housing enforcement teams that help to protect tenants against negligent landlords and poor housing.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“Today 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.”

The Charter sets out clear expectations for landlords including safe and well-maintained homes, fair treatment for tenants, and support for those facing financial difficulty or needing home adaptations. It is designed to improve the experience of renting across both the private and social rented sectors.

Tenants will also be more easily able to identify good landlords through a dedicated website, which also provides practical support and guidance for landlords committed to improving standards.

The Charter includes two tiers of participation:

• Supporters, who are working towards meeting all 21 criteria
• Members, who will have been independently assessed as fully meeting the criteria

Charlie Norman, Chair of Greater Manchester Housing Providers, which includes housing association and council housing providers across the city-region including Stockport Homes, said:

“We know that safe, decent, and affordable homes are the foundation of a good life. That’s why all members of Greater Manchester Housing Providers are proud to be part of the Good Landlord Charter.

“The Charter is a shared commitment to higher standards, stronger partnerships, and fairer outcomes for renters. It brings together landlords across the social and private sectors who are serious about doing the right thing, and it sends a powerful message that poor conditions and poor practice will no longer be tolerated in our city-region.

“We look forward to working with the Mayor, councils, and our fellow landlords to keep raising the bar and building a housing system that works for everyone in Greater Manchester.”