Bad landlords could have properties taken off them in overhaul of region's rental market, Andy Burnham announces

Bad landlords could be stripped of their properties under ambitious plans to overhaul Greater Manchester’s rental sector, the region’s mayor has revealed.

Andy Burnham is calling on the government to give the region the power to apply a mandatory standard to all rented homes, and a new set of tools to enforce improvements.

These would include a Greater Manchester property check inspection of all rented properties, which would also protect tenants from eviction if they report concerns about poor conditions such as mould and damp.

The announcement coincides with the debate over the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill in the House of Lords today (Tuesday, June 27) – a pivotal moment in the campaign for change following the tragic death of toddler Awaab Ishak in Rochdale as a result of damp conditions in the family’s housing association home.

Awaab’s Law should ensure no social tenant faces the same issues, with strict timeframes to be placed on inspections and repairs for damp and mould.

Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features

Mr Burnham now wants ministers to grant Greater Manchester beefed-up powers to tackle the rental crisis locally through the framework of the city-region’s trailblazer devolution deal, with the aim of bringing them into force by autumn 2024.

This would give the ten councils in the region the ability to acquire privately rented properties from landlords who are ‘unable or unwilling to meet standards’.

A ‘property improvement plan’ could also be created for homes which would outline the exact works needed for landlords to get them up to standard and connect them with funding and skilled contractors.

In a speech, due to be delivered at the Housing 2023