Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has launched the consultation on the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter. The charter is the first of its kind in the UK, bringing together landlords and renters to improve the standards of homes in social housing and the private rented sector. 
It aims to recognise and develop best practice, boost tenant confidence in the quality of good rental properties and provide an ambitious new voluntary standard for landlord excellence, no matter what kind of housing they let.
The Good Landlord Charter sets out a vision of better renting, which meets the following characteristics:
- Affordable – a tenant should understand how their rent and other charges are set and should not be ripped-off
- Inclusive – a tenant should not have a worse renting experience because of who they are
- Private and secure – a tenant should be reasonably free to enjoy their home and make it their own
- Responsive – a landlord should respond satisfactorily to requests for repairs, correspondence and complaints
- Safe and decent – a tenant should be able to live free from physical or psychological discomfort in their home
- Supportive – a tenant should have essential information about renting their home and be helped to access extra support if they need it
- Well managed – a landlord should be competent or use a competent managing agent
The plans for the charter follow a similar model to the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, launched in 2019, which has now engaged with more than a thousand employers across the city-region, helping them go above the bare legal minimum employment offer. The Good Landlord Charter will leverage public funding and other key devolved powers in a similar way. For example, when public bodies are involved in seeking rented homes – such as for use as temporary accommodation – they could require those bidding to sign up to the Charter.
The Good Landlord Charter has been drafted and developed with a coordinating group, which includes Greater Manchester Housing Providers, Greater Manchester Tenants Union, Greater Manchester Student Assembly, Manchester Student Homes, National Residential Landlords Association and Shelter. Greater Manchester Housing Providers have already committed to signing up to the Charter, meaning thousands of tenants are set to benefit from improved standards.
The Good Landlord Charter is out for public consultation until 12pm on 26 February 2024. To respond to the consultation online or download a copy of the consultation document (including in Easy Read format), visit: www.gmconsult.org
For more information on the development of the Good Landlord Charter and to view supporting documents, click here