Andy Burnham’s Latest Commitment to Renters?
2 years ago | 13 comments
Greater Manchester unveils the UK’s first property checks for tenants
9:49 AM, 20th May 2024, 2 years ago
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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.
‘Everyone deserves a good, safe and secure home’
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.”
Rented homes fall short of the Decent Homes Standard
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.
Greater Manchester will offer help to tenants
Mr Burnham also announced that when the Renters (Reform) Bill becomes law, then Greater Manchester will offer help to tenants with:
- Illegal evictions: The Bill introduces a new duty on local authorities to tackle unlawful evictions and harassment of tenants. Greater Manchester will invest £300,000 to create teams of housing law experts to deliver advocacy and support to renters.
- Using the benefits system to improve standards: When the Bill is made law, it will become illegal for landlords not to meet the Decent Homes Standard. Landlords receiving rent payments through housing benefits will be targeted to claim back housing benefit if they let substandard homes.
Tags:
Decent Homes Standard Enforcement, Good Landlord Charter Manchester, Greater Manchester Property Checks, Housing, Housing First Initiative UK, Manchester, property standards, renters rights, Tackling Criminal Landlords UK, Tenant Rights Greater Manchester, tenants
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Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3538 - Articles: 5
3:57 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by DPT at 20/05/2024 – 15:33
yes but this takes time effort and money. Easer to buy in programme made for SL fee collection and just implement that. Cash just rolls in, then when you are a bit short again, they can start visiting properties that have got a licence (its easy now we know where you are) and then list a lot of ‘issues’. This means we can tick a few boxes to prove we visit and then a few more ticks to show every single property had ‘failed’. Ergo then we can ‘prove’ all PRS accommodation is bad and then roll out SL to more postcodes….
Genius £££££ in the coffers!
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 401
4:23 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
I’m sure councils see the fire brigade as sitting around doing nothing most of the time so ‘brainwave’ get them to do the inspections thereby saving the cost of employing new people. In other words – done on the cheap!
Member Since March 2022 - Comments: 42
6:55 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 20/05/2024 – 10:57
Useless freckers
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1590
6:59 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
My tenants should not be required to allow Council busybodies to enter their homes. They are entitled to quiet enjoyment.
All of my properties are better than neighbouring Housing Association (HA) properties. Better kerb appeal, better kitchens and better bathrooms.
My tenants are often better tenants than many neighbouring HA tenants. This is because I CHOOSE my tenants and I don’t have a legal requirement to let my properties to any Tom, Dick or Harry like HA’s do.
It will remain this way. I will continue to choose who lives in my properties. It will continue to be people who have well-respected family in the area. No druggies, no landlord-haters.
If my right to choose tenants is taken away, the properties will be sold with vacant possession or repurposed regardless of any unjust laws, even if it means I make a loss.
Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 27
8:05 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by David at 20/05/2024 – 10:25
That would too big a step in the right direction
Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 27
8:09 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 20/05/2024 – 15:57
Anybody what a decent home standard is?
Should I Google it?
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3538 - Articles: 5
8:54 PM, 20th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by BobbyBisto at 20/05/2024 – 20:09
yes google Decent home standard. It only applies to the social sector….actually they did a consultation for this to be put into the PRS – what was the outcome? Anyone got a link to the outcome of this?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-decent-home-definition-and-guidance
Member Since March 2024 - Comments: 27
6:15 AM, 21st May 2024, About 2 years ago
It seems now we’re not even rogue landlords but ‘criminal’ landlords.
That descended fast.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 2025
10:11 AM, 21st May 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 20/05/2024 – 18:59
That’s right. We don’t have the right to enter our properties without giving 24 hours notice which means that we cannot effectively check whether benefits tenants are entitled to benefits anyway.
Member Since June 2023 - Comments: 6
8:59 AM, 25th May 2024, About 2 years ago
Their work load will fall as more good landlords sell up and Tenants will have less places to live!
HAs he not read the NRLA report on the Licensing Lottery?
That states that 79% of PRS properties met the Decent Home Standard in 2020 and 86% are free of Cat 1 hazards.
So effectively they are wasting £600k on 20% or less of properties they think are substandard?
It would be a better use of resources to inspect Social Properties where I would suggest the figures are less if the TV and press reports are anything to go by.
Newcastle Council it was reported had to rehouse 78 families from their social houses due to damp and mould! None reported from the PRS!!
Never mind it will raise rents for Tenants even further.