Manchester residents will have the right to a property check under a new scheme from the Mayor.
These plans were first announced at the beginning of the year.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham reiterated these plans today at the findings of the GMCA Fire Service report.
Mr Burnham stressed that housing and education would dominate the agenda if he is re-elected.
The Mayor today said: “Housing has to move front and centre.”
“Empowering people who feel they are trapped in difficult circumstances: that’s what this is about”.
The new right for tenants to request a Greater Manchester Property Check follows the consultation on the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter.
The charter brought together landlords and renters, aiming to improve renting experiences and the standards of homes.
It will leverage public funding and other devolved powers in a similar way to the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, launched in 2019.
This could mean, for example, that when public bodies are involved in seeking rented homes, they may be required to sign up to the Charter.
Research commissioned as part of the development of the Good Landlord Charter found that
The charter commissioned research regarding private tenants experience in the rental sector.
It found:
- Over three quarters of private tenants say accreditation would make a difference to their likelihood of renting from a landlord.
- Three-quarters of private tenants experienced a maintenance issue in their property within the last year.
- This includes two in five that have experienced damp and mould and nearly one in three a broken boiler or heating.
- Two in five private tenants have been left dissatisfied with outcomes of dealing with maintenance issues.
Mr Burnham said earlier this year: “I’m clear that driving up the quality of rented housing is one of my key priorities.
“We know your home has a huge impact on so many aspects of life, from your physical and mental health, to your safety and security.
“This work has, in part, been driven by the devastating conclusions of the inquest that followed Awaab Ishak’s death.
“A two-year-old boy died because of the quality of his home, and we recognised this had to be the moment when things changed.”
“The truth is, when we get housing right, we also potentially save billions in public money currently spent dealing with the social crises that come from poor housing situations.”
