My placement at the Good Landlord Charter

The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter partnered with the Greater Manchester Apprenticeships and Careers Service (GMACS) to provide a paid placement to two Greater Manchester young people. GMACS is part of the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham's commitment to ensure that every young person has access to opportunities and that no one is left behind.  

We can’t believe the placement is over already! This blog is bittersweet as we sit down with Kimberley and Josiah to reflect on the past seven weeks they have spent with us.

It’s been seven weeks since you joined, what have you learnt about the Charter, and what we do? 

Kimberley: The Charter sets out 21 criteria that go above and beyond the minimum legal requirements for landlords. These criteria cover key aspects of the rental experience. By meeting all 21 criteria, landlords can become full Charter Members and be recognized as Good Landlords. 

Josiah: Essentially, the Good Landlord charter aims to create an equal and more responsible rental market that benefits both sides of the equation. Tenants and Landlords. We work with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham along with a wide range of private and social landlords.  

Hey, those are really good answers. We should use them in a blog or something. 

Of all the places to complete a placement, what stood out about us? (Except the fair pay and the lovely people in the Implementation Unit) 

Josiah: The charter sets and raises clear standards for landlords, promoting responsible property management, fairness and transparency in their relationships with tenants.  

Kimberley: The Good Landlord Charter is important. It ensures better living standards for tenants whilst also helping support landlords to keep to those standards. Creating a fairer, and more secure renting environment for everyone involved by promoting responsible and ethical management of rental properties. The fact that I’m part of a major change in the housing sector is an amazing experience for me. Seeing how a project is run from the beginning is enlightening, it’s given me a greater understanding on how projects are run and how every step is important to achieving milestones. I like how it’s a collaborative work environment where ideas are heard and creativity flourishes. 

So, let’s have a look at everything you’ve worked on in the last 7 weeks. I know you’ve been busy working with Safrash, our Project Support Coordinator, and Indie our Marketing Manager. 

Kimberley: I’ve been part of promoting the Charter through social media, like Instagram and LinkedIn. Designed posts on Canva, this allowed me to be creative and gain a better understanding of how to reach the right audiences. In addition, I’ve done research on the Renters Righters Bill, seeing how it fits in with the Charter and finding out what concerns landlords might have about it. I created a list of events that are happening within the housing sector. 

Josiah: I created a graphic design for an Instagram post for the good landlord charter using a tool called Canva as well as being a part of many pre published tasters. I got to experiment and create a more Gen-Z aimed graphic design for “What makes a landlord responsive?”. 

The designs were great too, and Josiah, if we ever get the copyright permissions for SpongeBob, we’ll share those posts with the world. 

We’re excited to see where you go next. Do you have any ideas or plans?  

Josiah: Hopefully something else in marketing however, if another job opportunity that offers a fresh new canvas of possibilities, I would not hesitate to try!  

Kimberley: I want to use my portfolio of work during the placement to apply for project support and project co-ordinator roles. I’d like an opportunity to use the skills I’ve enhanced and adopted to apply for these roles. 

Kimberley, it makes sense that you’d want to do a project support role, I know you were invaluable to Safrash. What did you learn about project management in your time with us? 

Kimberley: In Project Management, the importance of having a well-defined vision, a solid plan to get there, and the ability to effectively collaborate and adapt when things inevitably shift. Ultimately, these fields are all about understanding people, solving problems creatively, and bringing ideas to life in a structured and impactful way. 

Any major takeaways about marketing too? 

Kimberley: I've gained a clearer appreciation for how Marketing hinges on truly understanding people – their needs, desires, and how to connect with them authentically through clear and compelling communication. When designing, I've been reminded that it's not just about making things look good; it's about creating intuitive and effective solutions that genuinely serve a purpose for the user. 

Josiah: It's a lot of work however the payoff is huge as you can genuinely see and appreciate your piece/s of work 

As we wrap up the last few days of the placement, we just want to say a huge thank you to Kimberley and Josiah. In 7 weeks, they’ve brought a fresh energy, creative ideas and thoughtful perspective. Their growth has mirrored the evolution of our project by learning, adapting, and pushing for better standards. Opportunities like this don't just help us deliver more, but they challenge us to communicate better, think differently, and stay rooted in the values that make this work meaningful.  

Kimberley and Josiah can be proud that they were one of the first to shape the Good Landlord Charter as we build a better future for Greater Manchester. We can’t wait to see where they go next.