Andy Burnham: Mayor makes pledge to crackdown on rogue landlords

A public consultation on a new Greater Manchester landlords charter starts on Monday

Rogue landlords who refuse to maintain homes will no longer be "untouchable" under plans to drive up housing standards, Andy Burnham has said.

A consultation on the Mayor of Greater Manchester's Good Landlord Charter will open next week.

Mr Burnham said the scheme would help renters distinguish between accredited landlords and those who refuse to pay for the upkeep of their homes.

It comes alongside a pledge to boost inspections and enforcement in 2024.

This included creating new teams consisting of staff from the fire service, environmental health staff and police to use the "whole range" of powers those agencies have to tackle rogue landlords, Mr Burnham said.

He has also committed to introducing the right for renters to request councils to carry out a property check if they are concerned about the state of their home.

'Get serious'

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, the mayor said it was time for Greater Manchester to "get serious" about housing, which he outlined as one of his priorities for 2024.

The health of tenants was being "put at risk" by those who refused to pay for the upkeep of run down homes which "drag down communities", he said.

The city region would "not accept this whole culture of landlords sometimes taking money through the benefits system, public money, and then not putting a penny of that back into their properties", the mayor added.

The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter, which has been set up by the mayor and a group of tenants, landlords and other housing experts, will accredit landlords who meet certain standards.

It aims to cover both social housing and private rental providers across the city region.