27th
May 2024
Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham has launched the Property Check Scheme in its effort to combat ‘not fit for purpose’ rented housing and weed out rogue landlords.
This schema is the first of its kind to be launched in the UK and is part of a £600,000 package to ensure that rented housing is improved ‘so it works for people, not against them’.
It is muted that the scheme’s checks could be carried out by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service after being contacted by tenants who were worried by the poor condition of their rented home.
If the property fails to meet the Decent Homes Standard then enforcement action will be taken immediately 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.”
During the launch of the scheme Mr Burham said that virtually a quarter (56,000) of PRS homes fail to meet Decent Homes Standard’s requirements, however this could quickly rise to 40 per cent because some landlords could be evicting their tenants before they could make any complaints.
The mayor said the renters’ most common complaints include damp, broken electrics and leaking rooves.
The Property Check scheme is targeting rogue landlords who have no interest in working with local authorities in helping their tenants who ‘feel trapped by their housing situation’.
The mayor also said that when the Renters Reform Bill is finally passed into law after the general election, Greater Manchester will provide support to help 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.
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