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Making Renting Better

The Good Landlord Charter will work to raise renting standards across Greater Manchester by supporting landlords to aim for higher standards than the minimum they are required to meet by law.

The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter

The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter is a pioneering initiative to improve rental standards for private and social tenants. The Good Landlord Charter was launched by Mayor Andy Burnham and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). 

 

Together with local authorities, housing providers, tenant groups, and landlords, we are setting new standards to transform the renting experience. The Charter is a free and voluntary scheme open to residential landlords with properties in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan. 

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The Good Landlord Charter was developed throughout 2023 and open to public consultation at the beginning of 2024. GMCA led the development process with advice and feedback from a coordinating group of stakeholders and industry experts, commissioning the Implementation Unit in November 2024. The Implementation Unit operates independently from the GMCA or any Greater Manchester local authority and is overseen by a Governing Board of tenants, landlords, and industry experts.

The Good Landlord Charter provides 21 Membership criteria, grouped into 7 categories

Affordable

  • Clear and fair rent review or setting process

  • Giving a fair amount of time to tenants who struggle to pay their rent

  • Properties meet EPC C as a minimum, within achievable timescales

  • Not using mandatory rent arrears ground (social landlords only)

Inclusive

  • Make or facilitate reasonable adaptations to properties, where needed by the tenant, and where applicable join an adaptations register

  • Make a demonstrable commitment to accepting tenants from any background
     

Private & Secure

  • Tenants are able to make reasonable changes to their home

  • Access to a tenant’s home should be by agreement, except in an emergency



     

Responsive

  • Published, timely, target response times

  • Clear complaints policy, with an independent stage

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Supportive

  • 'Commitment to Refer’ tenants at risk of homelessness to council 

  • Transparent, easy to understand contracts

  • Adopting advertising / viewing standards

  • Providing / signposting tenants to useful information 

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Well Managed

  • Landlord must be able to demonstrate accreditation or training, or use an accredited managing agent

  • Clear start and end-of-tenancy process 

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Safe & Decent

  • Effective approach to property inspection

  • Fit and proper person check

  • Any work/repairs done by a qualified or competent person

  • Adopt standards on what should happen at the start of a tenancy

  • Space standards and amenities

THE GOOD LANDLORD CHARTER

Making Renting Better

The Charter's 21 criteria exceed the legal minimums to promote responsible and ethical management. Membership with the Charter strengthens tenant protections and improves the overall quality of the renting experience for landlords and tenants. 

 

We are working with tenants, landlords, and other stakeholders to develop an assessment framework to explain the steps for Membership clearly. The implementation unit will provide support and incentives to help landlords meet Membership criteria. Register your support for the Charter to be updated with the assessment framework and future incentives.

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IMPLEMENTATION UNIT

The Team

The Implementation Unit works with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, tenants, Charter Supporters, Members, and other partners to implement the Charter across Greater Manchester.

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Our work involves developing the Charter further, establishing criteria for Charter Membership, and working with landlords across Greater Manchester. We offer advice, information, and support to help landlords progress from being Supporters to meeting the standards required to become full Charter Members. 

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BECOME A SUPPORTER NOW

If you are interested in becoming a Good Landlord Charter Supporter, please fill in the Application form. 

 

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BECOME A SUPPORTER NOW

Supporters

The Good Landlord Charter is a free and voluntary scheme for all residential landlords who want to commit to higher standards than those required by law. We are encouraging landlords to initially pledge their support for the Charter and commit to working with us to achieve full Charter Membership. 

STAY UPDATED

Stay updated with the latest news, blogs, and support available from the Charter

 

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