What does the Charter mean for landlords?
- Good Landlord Charter
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter is being developed and will launch this spring. There are a lot of questions about what it means for landlords. We want to address some of the common questions and concerns that landlords have shared.
If your first question is, ‘What is the Good Landlord Charter?’, read our blog, which goes into more detail on our journey so far. If your next question is 'how do I get involved?', landlords are now registering their support. Visit our page for landlords.
Am I a bad landlord if I don’t meet the criteria?
Of course not. The Good Landlord Charter is a way to support landlords to develop and offer a better rental experience. We don’t expect people to meet all the criteria immediately. However, we do expect you to comply with the relevant legal regulations outlined by the government.
Landlords can initially register their support, which lets us know you want to work towards membership. We can then support landlords' efforts to meet the criteria through support and guidance.
I don’t know what is fully required to get Good Landlord Charter Membership. Are there more details on the 21 criteria?
Yes! Right now, as we’re working towards launching the Charter, we are refining an assessment framework for the specific requirements of the criteria. We aim to have this available over the summer. But we are asking Landlords to join as Supporters now.
What Membership fees does the Charter charge?
None! There is no fee to get involved with the Charter. When creating the 21 Membership criteria, we consulted with landlords and tenants. It was agreed that the Charter should be a free and voluntary scheme.
Why isn’t this a Good Tenant Charter?
It’s a very good question and a difficult one to navigate. The Charter aims to protect tenants’ rights and remove barriers to accessing safe and secure homes for everyone in Greater Manchester.
We are working with landlords to understand their needs from tenants. The goal of the Charter is to provide Good Landlords with an endorsement that will attract tenants and give them confidence in their landlords. When deciding the Membership criteria, we surveyed landlords and tenants who both agreed that open communication and accreditation for landlords would influence renting decisions and reduce tenancy turnover rates.
Why should I get involved?
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to be recognised as the good landlord you are or get support to become one! We are also a Greater Manchester project. We have a lot of pride for the Greater Manchester area, and as a landlord who owns a part of it, we assume you’re proud too. Our goal is to work together to improve the experience of living in Greater Manchester for everyone. We want to help landlords who align with this goal.
We also want to make the tenancy process easier for everyone by making it easier to spot a good landlord. When tenants look for a landlord, they sometimes find it difficult to navigate and end up putting lots of trust in a stranger. We want to recognise Good Landlords and make it easier for tenants to find them in Greater Manchester.
Are there incentives to sign up?
Right now, we’re working to develop a pack of resources and guidance to support landlords. We are also continuously working closely with people from across the sector to encourage them to get involved.
How do I get a Membership?
The exact process is still being developed, but it will involve working closely with us to provide evidence of your compliance with each of the 21 Criteria. We don’t expect this will be a quick process and will require support and guidance from ourselves, which is exactly what we’re here to do!
The Good Landlord Charter is here to recognise the good work many landlords are doing and raise the standards for what renting can be like in Greater Manchester.
We want our city-region to continue to be a great place to live. Now is your time to make a difference for the people of Greater Manchester, so register your support with the Charter today.
