9:49 AM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago 31
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Greater Manchester is launching property checks to tackle substandard rented housing and to clampdown on criminal landlords.
The Property Check scheme is a UK first and part of a £600,000 package aimed at improving rented housing ‘so it works for people, not against them’.
The scheme, which could see Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service carrying out the checks, will help tenants concerned about their rented home’s condition.
If the property fails to meet the Decent Homes Standard, enforcement action will be taken against the landlord.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Everyone across our city-region deserves a good, safe and secure home. It should be the starting point for a good life. It should not damage your health or be a source of concern and anxiety.
“Sadly, too many people in Greater Manchester still find themselves in those situations, trapped in poorly maintained properties and in fear of unlawful eviction.
“But the days of bad landlords renting out unsafe and unfit homes are coming to an end.”
He added: “This new right to a property check for all residents, backed up with new measures to protect renters and take action against rogue landlords, will empower people across Greater Manchester and put us on course to become the UK’s only Housing First city-region.”
At the scheme’s launch, Mr Burnham said nearly a quarter (56,000) of private rented homes fall short of the Decent Homes Standard – but this could be up to 40% due to fear of eviction preventing complaints from being made.
Issues like damp, broken electrics, and leaky roofs are common complaints for renters, the mayor says.
The Property Check scheme is aimed at landlords who will not work with local authorities voluntarily and help tenants who ‘feel trapped by their housing situation’.
The Good Landlord Charter will also be rolled out later this year to deliver accessible and clear standards for both social and private rented housing.
Mr Burnham also announced that when the Renters (Reform) Bill becomes law, then Greater Manchester will offer help to tenants with:
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Southern Boyuk
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Member Since August 2023 - Comments: 92
12:40 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Could there be illegal challenge if they don’t do it on Council properties too?
Michael Booth
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Member Since September 2023 - Comments: 335
12:52 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Another nail in the landlord coffin bye
Reluctant Landlord
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Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3380 - Articles: 5
12:54 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Southern Boyuk at 20/05/2024 – 12:40
there can be legal challenges for everything being imposed on the PRS from SL to rent controls…the problem is the cost of bringing a case against a council and proving your claim. Where do you get the evidence from to challenge it….inevitably you have to get FOI details and we all know how the council/government likes to make that easy…
northern landlord
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Member Since March 2022 - Comments: 350
13:25 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 20/05/2024 – 10:57
I thought they were paid by us to represent us! Hopefully tenants will join the NRLA to keep the numbers up as the landlords leave.
Michael Brown
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Member Since April 2019 - Comments: 3
13:51 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
So is this a admission that the selective licensing scheme has failed. The first scheme failed and the second scheme is again nothing more than a money making scheme
LaLo
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Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 374
14:25 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Old Mrs Landlord at 20/05/2024 – 12:38
Ouch! There’s a good chance Labour may ‘get in’ and the last time I looked at their manifesto – 2 year contracts are listed but there maybe a ‘U turn’ as usual but definitely firing squads tho’!
Michael Brown
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Member Since April 2019 - Comments: 3
14:31 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Specialist law help will be set up costing £300,000. That will get you one lawyer and an assist they already contribute to Shelter. Just backing failures in their system again
Markella Mikkelsen
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Member Since August 2022 - Comments: 100
14:51 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Firstly, I no longer take tenants on benefits and I can reject them legitimatley as they will all fail their affordability test. There is nothing Mr Burnham can do about it.
Secondly with this hare-brained scheme, I foresee many situations where a tenant unscrupulously causes damage to the property and reports the landlord to the council. So if my inventory demonstrates that the damage was caused by the tenant, will the same body that enforces Property checks on the landlord make the tenant pay for the damage? What about mould caused by the tenant not opening windows? Will the tenant be made to clean it up?
Manchester is now so overburdened with legislation against the PRS – SL, blanket article 4, now the new hare-brained scheme – it is no longer viable being a private landlord.
Oh and btw, great use of public funds and Fire brigade time.
Josie Coote
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Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 4
15:21 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by David at 20/05/2024 – 10:25
Well said David!
DPT
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Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 1088
15:33 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
This is what Councils SHOULD be doing. Enforcing regulation rather than blanketing all landlords with licensing and bureaucracy.