Thousands of Mancunian renters could see homes improved under new rules

Nearly 2,000 Mancunian renters could see their homes improved under new council plans.

Currently, officials in Manchester council are hoping to expand a ‘selective licensing’ scheme for landlords. Already in place for 2,000 properties — in Gorton, Harpurhey, Clayton, Abbey Hey, Openshaw, Moss Side, Levenshulme, Longsight, and Rusholme — city bosses want to expand it to 1,900 new homes.

They will be in Miles Platting, Newton Heath, Moss Side, Crumpsall, Longsight, and Cheetham if the plans get the go-ahead. Selective landlord licensing requires landlords of all privately rented properties to obtain a licence in a particular area from the council.

READ MORE: Teacher accused of having sex with two underage pupils breaks down after revealing baby girl was 'taken away'

It’s designed to address the impact of poor-quality homes and improve management standards, and authority chiefs say they look to introduce it in areas experiencing or likely to experience ‘significant and persistent problems caused by antisocial behaviour, poor property conditions, high levels of migration, high levels of deprivation, high levels of crime, or low housing demand’.

Since being introduced in 2017, the council says 3,406 properties have been licenced — with 887 compliance inspections taking place at those addresses, which found more than 1,700 hazards. Of those 887 inspections, 214 homes were fully compliant, 561 were ‘broadly compliant’ with minor work required, and 100 properties didn’t meet the necessary standards — so their landlords were handed a legal notice or fine.

Of this select few, 21 were given fines — worth £107,500 in total — and 13 prohibition orders and 3 suspended prohibition orders, that could close a property if standards