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Andy Burnham, who was re-elected as the mayor of Manchester, has pledged to spend £600,000 of council tax money on a range of measures to crack down on unscrupulous landlords.
Burnham’s measures include a property check regime that gives tenants the right to request a property check, followed by enforcement action, to ensure the property is up to a decent housing standard.
The property check scheme will be piloted in Salford, with the Mayor expected to ask Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to help deliver the checks.
Mayor Burnham said: “The new right to property inspections for all residents is backed by new measures to protect renters and take action against rogue landlords, giving people across Greater Manchester more power. This will put us on track to become the UK’s only Housing First city.
Mr Burnham said around 23% of private rental housing (56,000 units) and just under 17% of rental housing (82,000 units) did not meet decent housing standards.
But he added: “The actual number of substandard rents is believed to be as high as 40%, as many tenants feel unable to file complaints for fear of eviction.”
Another measure being introduced is a new team of housing law experts who will be tasked with advising tenants and identifying opportunities for intervention where people are at risk of harassment or illegal eviction. Become.
Meanwhile, a trial will be launched with Oldham City Council to find out whether central government and local councils can claim back housing benefit if landlords have substandard housing.
The Good Landlord Charter, due to come into force this year, will work with landlords willing to work with councils to improve standards of accommodation.
A survey of private tenants in Greater Manchester found that over the past year:
• 43% of private tenants have experienced damp or mold.
• 31% do not have hot water or central heating.
• 20% experience electrical equipment failure.
• 20% live in properties with leaky roofs.
• 12% coexist with pest infestations.