Greater Manchester Mayor unveils housing ambitions

Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has outlined proposals to tackle the city-region’s housing crisis with plans to build 75,000 new homes by 2029.

Alongside housebuilding ambitions, the Mayor is also launching the city-region’s Good Landlord Charter which aims to improve standards for tenants across both the private and social rented sector. Following on from the success of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, the voluntary scheme aims to address the approximately 82,000 rented homes in the city-region that fail to meet legal standards, and grant greater powers to renters to secure action on repairs and maintenance.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy 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.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, 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.

“I’m completely behind Andy’s mission to build more affordable homes, and his support for renters. We will overhaul the private rented sector giving millions of tenants more security in their homes.”

Greater Manchester’s plans for building new homes come as part of national ambitions by the new Labour government to deliver 1.5 million new houses over the course of this Parliament. The city-region’s proposals aim to deliver 75,000 of those homes, including at least 10,000 truly affordable net-zero properties. Greater Manchester is proposing a new partnership with Government that would see greater flexibility over funding and capacity to accelerate the supply of new homes – including new social homes.

The Good Landlord Charter – the first of its kind in the country – will also set a clear, high set of standards that will give confidence to tenants, and support landlords to raise the quality of renting across the city-region. Designed in partnership with renters, private and social landlords, trade bodies, and industry experts over the past year, the charter is based on seven core principles for high quality housing:

• Affordable – tenants should understand how their rent and other charges are set and should not be overcharged.
• Safe and decent – tenants should be able to live free from physical or psychological discomfort in their home.
• Responsive – landlords should respond satisfactorily to requests for repairs, correspondence and complaints.
• Well managed – landlords or managing agents should be competent.
• Inclusive – no tenant should have a worse experience because of who they are.
• Private and secure – tenants should be free to enjoy their home and make it their own.
• Supportive – tenants should have essential information and extra support if required.

Ahead of the official launch of the charter, landlords can begin registering their interest via the GMCA website. Landlords who register early will work with a new independent Charter Implementation Unit to put the charter into practice, developing the support offer for landlords and the approach to assessment.

Alongside the Charter, Greater Manchester is also boosting enforcement capacity with a right to a Property Check for all renters, carried out local expert teams and followed up with action where necessary.