The Future of Better Renting at Housing 2026

The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter is a first-of-its-kind initiative to raise rental standards. The Good Landlord Charter was originally a mayoral commitment from MP Andy Burnham and is funded by GMCA as part of their Housing Strategy. An Implementation Unit independently operates it from The Dispute Service.

The Good Landlord Charter recognises landlords who go above and beyond their legal minimum requirements. Doing so raises the rental experience for people living in Greater Manchester. Landlords demonstrate their commitment by meeting the Charter’s Membership criteria, which covers 7 characteristics of better renting:

• Affordable

• Inclusive

• Private & Secure

• Responsive

• Safe & Decent

• Supportive

• Well-managed

Marking one year since the official launch of the Charter, the Implementation Unit returned to Housing 2026.

On the second day of the conference, Tom Fisher, Head of the Good Landlord Charter, joined a panel of experts to speak about the importance of engaging landlords and renters to improve rental experiences for everyone amidst changes in legislation.

Charlotte Vale, Membership & Quality Manager, also shared some of the achievements from the Good Landlord Charter's collaboration with the Feel the Benefit retrofitting team to support a record amount of PRS landlords accessing funding.

On the last day of the conference, the Good Landlord Charter hosted its own session to discuss the future of better renting. Tom Fisher opened the session and reflected on the work done across the year to develop and implement the Charter.

Charlotte Vale, Membership & Quality Manager, chaired a panel discussion with two landlords working towards Membership with the Charter, and one of our Champions. Grainger Plc, represented by Richard Grocott (Acquisitions and Public Affairs Manager) and Raj Bawa (Individual landlord and Director and Head of Partnerships for VS Property Group). Along with letting agent Stott Estates and Property Management, represented by Holly Spencer (Managing Director). 

Together, this panel represents the many landlords and letting agents actively working with the Implementation Unit to improve the rental experience of Greater Manchester.

The group discussed the challenges faced in the sector to improve rental standards.

"We've faced many of the same challenges the sector has over the last 18 months or so...rising costs...changes in legislation" - Richard Grocott, Grainger plc

"We’re seeing significant changes in legislation, increasing compliance requirements, higher expectations from tenants, and uncertainty around future reforms. For many landlords, particularly those who have historically viewed property as a passive investment, this can feel overwhelming. - Holly Spencer, Stott Estates & Property Management

The panel then shared insights into the actions they’re taking for success in the future. 

"I think our approach sets us up for success for the future. We think ahead from the very beginning... identifying the product or service an area needs and whether we can meet it... thinking about the local areas we build in and getting involved in local things like the Charter" - Richard Grocott, Grainger plc

"I think one of the biggest things driving success for us is focusing on long-term relationships rather than short-term transactions. That means investing in communication, responding quickly to maintenance issues, carrying out regular property reviews, and helping landlords make improvements that benefit tenants and protect their asset over time." - Holly Spencer, Stott Estates & Property Management

Raj Bawa, VS Property Group, commented on their experience as an individual landlord while working professionally with social housing and local authorities, highlighting the need for initiatives like the Good Landlord Charter to support all residential landlords.

Closing the discussion, Charlotte reflected that the sector is moving away from landlords generating passive income. Instead, moving towards a model of more active professionalism. This model is reflected in the landlords and letting agents represented on the panel, and those registered with the Good Landlord Charter. The Charter offers clear criteria to measure good renting practises and to set expectations for renters’ experiences in the city-region. 

The Implementation Unit then hosted an interview between Claire Vibert, Network & Learning Manager, and Finn Grice, Policy and Research Manager for the LGBT Foundation. Claire and Finn discussed the collaboration between the Good Landlord Charter, the LGBT Foundation, and the GM Equality Panel to create a toolkit for landlords to provide inclusive services.

Finn shared the data available for the lived experience of members of the LGBTQI+ community in the rental sector. The data available from the LGBT Foundation shows members of the LGBTQI+ community are more likely to experience discrimination when renting and are at a higher risk of homelessness compared to the general population.

"We know that LGBTQ+ people face disparities in housing, be it in home ownership, the private rented sector, social housing or homelessness. The Good Landlord Charter is significant because it makes these issues that so often go unacknowledged tangible for Landlords who want to do better for LGBTQ+ communities." - Finn Grice, LGBT Foundation

In conversation with Finn, Claire announced the development of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training by the Good Landlord Charter specifically for PRS landlords, the first-of-its-kind in the country.

As the rental experience becomes more professionalised, free services like the Good Landlord Charter grow in demand. All residential landlords in Greater Manchester are encouraged to register for free as a Supporter of the Charter. Supporters work towards full Membership and can access professional advice and support, as well as other benefits available for committing to raising rental standards.