Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has outlined plans which would mean unsafe or poor housing could be seized from bad landlords.  

It comes as part of the Mayor's aim to realise 'a healthy home for all by 2038' across a 15-year programme. 

Mr Burnham adds: "In simple terms, that means a home that doesn't damage your physical health through damp, mould and other physical hazards and doesn't harm your mental health because you live in fear of eviction."

In a speech at a housing conference yesterday (27 June), Mr Burnham called for national housing reform, whilst outlining a more actionable programme for Greater Manchester under devolved powers.

Starting in 2024, new measures would enable the ten councils in the Greater Manchester region - including Stockport - to intervene and acquire properties from landlords who are unable or unwilling to meet decency standards. 

The Mayor has also outlined the introduction of the 'Good Landlord Charter', which would set out a series of standards which landlords would have to meet to become accredited. 

Arguing the case for the charter, Mr Burnham said: "For tenants, it would set out clearly what they are entitled to expect from their landlord and, over time, would give them visibility through accreditation of the many good landlords in our city-region who are trying to do the right thing and differentiate them from those who are not.

"For the decent landlords, it would give them recognition of their approach and prevent them being tainted by the actions of the less scrupulous."

Government data from 2019 reveals that 12% of homes in Greater Manchester had a category one serious health and safety hazard. 

Mr Burnham added: "In the private rented sector, things are much worse. 15% of homes had a category one hazard. Over 26% are non-decent."

Concerns around housing were magnified significantly following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020; national outrage followed after it was revealed that Awaab had died as a result of damp conditions and mould in a flat in Rochdale.

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