Andy Burnham claims the Good Landlord Charter will raise standards without driving landlords out
1 year ago | 16 comments
Andy Burnham proposes compulsory purchase orders for PRS homes
9:40 AM, 12th February 2026, 2 months ago
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The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has called for compulsory purchase orders for private rented sector (PRS) homes that are non-decent.
Speaking at the Resolution Foundation’s Unsung Britain conference in London, Mr Burnham set out his three points to fix the housing crisis.
As Mayor, Mr Burnham launched the Good Landlord Charter, which covers 50% of rented homes in Manchester.
Councils to purchase homes in PRS
Setting out his ideas, Mr Burnham claimed that with the right action, Britain could free itself from the housing crisis.
His first point included a new target of building half a million council and social homes by the end of the decade.
Mr Burnham then argued that councils should be given greater powers to tackle poor housing conditions in the PRS.
He told the conference: “We should give powers and funding to councils to compulsorily purchase homes in the private rented sector that are non-decent.
“You should no longer be allowed to rent out a home with the help of the benefits system when its condition harms the health of residents and drags down the surrounding community.”
He admitted it was a radical idea but insisted it was necessary to tackle the housing crisis.
He said: “Homes that were taken out of public ownership have been left in disrepair and exist to make money for absent landlords, while everyone else pays the consequences.”
His third point focused on accelerating a nationwide retrofit programme.
He claimed: “This will give millions of people better-quality homes with permanently lower energy bills, even possibly freeing them entirely from the worry of energy costs.”
PRS homes must meet DHS
Mr Burnham’s comments come as the government announced all PRS and social homes will need to meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2035.
Under the new standard, landlords will need to meet certain criteria, including that homes must be in a reasonable state of repair and provide core facilities and services, including a kitchen with adequate space and layout, an appropriately located bathroom and WC, and adequate protection from external noise.
However, according to government data, landlords will need to fork out £26.5 billion to meet the new standard.
Mr Burnham’s comments on fixing the housing crisis can be seen below from 15:00 onwards.
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Member Since May 2022 - Comments: 89
9:48 AM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
All my properties are as decent as the tensnts living in them. They are all EPC level C and have the necessary certification.
But if he is so keen on buying them, I have a few dozen properties he can have if he is so keen…
Over to you Burnham…your call.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1438 - Articles: 1
10:02 AM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
Love the “protected from noise” bit.
So ALL the rental properties that cannot meet EPC C criteria will be purchased by LAs? At market price?
What an excellent idea for those PRS landlords who want to leave the sector having had enough is enough. Quick conveyance, no estate agents fees, what’s not to like.
Would it have to be vacant possession though?
Member Since July 2015 - Comments: 66
10:03 AM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
No responsible landlord could fault the concept, because it will only clean up the PRS and clear out the irresponsible landlords. The difficulty comes with irresponsible tenants. So a process that protects landlords from rogue tenants and good tenants from rogue landlords should be welcomed by everyone.
Ive seen some of the damp mouldy poorly managed and maintained properties and they are a disgrace, and if compulsory purchase meant that they were improved and made available as safe low cost housing, then thats a result.
Im not a labour voter, but nice to hear some sense being talked from that end of the political spectrum with a longer term view
Member Since January 2022 - Comments: 9
10:05 AM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
Who would determine if a property is not of decent standard?
Who determines the purchase price of the property?
What happens with a property thats mouldy – due to the lifestyle choices of the tenant – would this allow the compulsory purchase of the property ?
My expectation of the answers to the first two will be the council – and the third will be yes. This is basically a way for councils to increase their stock of property to rent on the cheap – by effectively confiscating property.
I wonder how the council would fund the improvements to properties it “purchases” as they’re not of a decent standard?
Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 774
10:09 AM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
I thought they already had enough non decent homes of their own without buying more?
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 370
10:13 AM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
Another left wing extremist.I am almost hoping Starmer will remain rather than be replaced by the likes of Burnthem or Raynor.
Member Since April 2020 - Comments: 78 - Articles: 51
10:22 AM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 12/02/2026 – 10:09
Although this is for once a brilliant idea especially as thanks to RRA they will have to take the tenants as well.
…Your comment “I thought they already had enough non decent homes of their own without buying more?” had me crying with laughter. Well done @Paul Essex. 🙂
Member Since May 2023 - Comments: 11
10:45 AM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ray Guselli at 12/02/2026 – 09:48
Exactly.
Where do I sign. 🙂
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3511 - Articles: 5
11:15 AM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
adding CP properties of ‘not decent standard’ to a councils own portfolio of properties that already fail to meet (lower) current legal social housing standards?
Remind me of how many Ombudsman cases there are for D&M issues in social provision properties, and how many will be rearing their head c/o Aawabs Law?
And how do they propose to CP such properties in the first instance? With what exactly? Is this the same magic place where the money is coming from for the 1.5 million new homes, plus all the additional for meeting the DHS in 2030 along with all social properties being a C EPC at the same time?????
Member Since August 2016 - Comments: 1190
12:06 PM, 12th February 2026, About 2 months ago
So where’s the money coming from the Magic Money Tree ?