More than half of all rented homes in Greater Manchester are now covered by the UK’s first ever Good Landlord Charter — a key pillar of the city-region’s Housing First ambition to increase supply, drive up standards, and support residents.
Part of a bold, twin-track approach that balances recognising good landlords with enforcement action against negligent ones, the Charter aims to drive up standards in rented housing across the city-region.
It is a cornerstone of the Mayor’s ambition to make Greater Manchester a Housing First city-region, where everyone has access to a safe, secure, affordable and healthy home by 2038. When people have a healthy home, they are more likely to thrive in their everyday life.
Since applications opened in April this year, more than 100 landlords have come forward to become Supporters of the Charter. These landlords, from both the social and private rented sectors, account for more than 234,000 properties — and the aim is to grow the Charter even further so that more renters can benefit.
The Good Landlord Charter will help to set a new standard in renting, supporting landlords to go above and beyond the minimum national standards to provide the very best rental experience for tenants. It also aims to shine a light on those landlords who don’t look after the homes and tenants that they are responsible for.
It is the first voluntary scheme of its kind across the UK, bringing together leading social housing providers and a growing number of private landlords who have committed to raising standards beyond the legal requirements.
Since 2024, Greater Manchester has led a crackdown on negligent landlords, increasing the number of enforcement fines for housing offences by 43%, totalling £1.47m. This is being reinvested into local housing enforcement teams, helping to protect tenants against negligent landlords and poor housing.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “We are entering a new era for renting in Greater Manchester. We’re making it clear that renting out sub-standard properties, which damage the health of our residents, will no longer be tolerated. This city-region is getting serious about driving up housing standards and delivering on the promise of a good home for everyone.
“We know there are many good landlords out there and the Charter will give them the recognition they deserve. It will also help isolate those who require further attention from our enforcement teams. The £1.47m of civil penalties our local authorities have issued in the last two years show we’re holding the most negligent landlords to account.
“Together, we’re leading the way in how to build a fairer, stronger housing system and blazing a trail for the rest of the country to follow.
Deputy Mayor and Greater Manchester Lead for Housing, Paul Dennett, commented: “The housing crisis we face isn’t just about supply, it’s about quality, security, and fairness. The Good Landlord Charter sets a clear, ambitious standard for what good renting looks like in the 21st Century. It reflects a true partnership approach, one that works with landlords who want to do better.
“It also marks a major step forward in our journey to a city-region where everyone has a safe, secure and affordable home. The housing crisis we face cannot be solved by simply building more homes, it’s also about making the homes we already have better for the tenants that live in them.
“The Charter is about recognising and backing landlords who are committed to doing the right thing. Our message is simple: if you’re a good landlord, Greater Manchester wants to work with you. If you break the law, expect to be held to account.”
Setting new standards for renters
The Charter sets out clear expectations for landlords including safe and well-maintained homes, fair treatment for tenants, and support for those facing financial difficulty or needing home adaptations. It is designed to improve the experience of renting across both the private and social rented sectors.
Tenants can now more easily identify good landlords through a dedicated website which also provides practical support and guidance for landlords committed to improving standards.
The Charter includes two tiers of participation:
- Supporters, who are working towards meeting all 21 criteria
- Members, who will have been independently assessed as fully meeting the criteria
Charlie Norman, Chair of Greater Manchester Housing Providers, said: “We know that safe, decent, and affordable homes are the foundation of a good life. That’s why all members of Greater Manchester Housing Providers are proud to be part of the Good Landlord Charter.
“The Charter is a shared commitment to higher standards, stronger partnerships, and fairer outcomes for renters. It brings together landlords across the social and private sectors who are serious about doing the right thing, and it sends a powerful message that poor conditions and poor practice will no longer be tolerated in our city-region.
“We look forward to working with the Mayor, councils, and our fellow landlords to keep raising the bar and building a housing system that works for everyone in Greater Manchester.”
Chris Norris, Chief Policy Officer of National Residential Landlords Association, commented: “We were pleased to be able to help shape a charter from the outset. What has been created will help improve the renting experience whilst taking into account the challenges landlords providing quality homes.
“What sets the GMCA Good Landlord Charter apart is its commitment to reconcile the views of a wide array of different organisations. It is rightly committed to rooting out rogue landlords whilst at the same time supporting, recognising, and promoting the contribution of the overwhelming majority of landlords who provide high-quality private rented accommodation.”
Kurt Mueller, Director of Corporate Affairs at Grainger plc, added: “As a supporter of the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter, we’re proud to play a leading role in this ambitious and much-needed initiative. As the UK’s largest listed residential landlord and leader in the Build to Rent sector, we are committed to creating safe, inclusive communities where all our customers are treated with dignity and respect.
“The Charter sets out a shared ambition to raise standards across the rental sector, and we believe it provides a positive platform to highlight and promote the values that matter to both landlords and tenants alike.”
Twin-track transformation
The Good Landlord Charter is part of a wider effort to rebuild, rewire and restore Greater Manchester’s housing system. By working with both government and local partners, the city-region is pioneering a “twin-track” approach that:
- Supports good landlords to meet and exceed expectations through incentives, clear standards and a shared badge of quality
- Enforces against rogue landlords through proactive inspections, fines and legal action
Since 2023, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has supported councils to recruit an additional 26 housing enforcement officers to strengthen compliance across the rental sector.
Backed by long-term investment and reform
The Charter aligns with national efforts to reform renting set out in the Renters’ Rights Bill, and supports Greater Manchester’s push for long-term housing transformation underpinned by major investment announced in the Spending Review including:
- A £39bn 10-year programme to boost social and affordable housing from 2026
- Over £1bn to fix unsafe buildings in both public and private sectors
- £950m for local authorities to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation
- A new £100m prevention fund to tackle homelessness early
The Charter is key to unlocking this future. It is Greater Manchester’s practical step towards delivering a system that works for both renters and responsible landlords.
Header image: ©John/AdobeStock
