For thousands of renters across Greater Manchester, the reality of renting can mean damp homes, high rents, and insecure contracts. But a new initiative launched this week aims to shift the power balance — and raise the standards tenants can expect.
The Good Landlord Charter, developed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), is the first regional scheme of its kind in the country. It invites landlords to sign up voluntarily and commit to clear values: affordability, safety, inclusivity, and proper management. More than 108 landlords have already registered, covering 235,000 homes — more than half of all rented properties across the city region.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, GM’s lead for housing, described the Charter as a major milestone.
He said the Charter is not just about compliance but about setting a benchmark. Since its soft launch in April, the scheme has gained rapid traction. Dennett said the ambition is to turn signatories into ‘champions’ who will promote better renting standards both within Greater Manchester and nationally.
He acknowledged that change is already happening across the country with the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill, but said the Charter goes further.
Dennett said: “We are supporting landlords to go above and beyond to improve their practice and place the people of GM at the heart of everything we are about.”
The Charter was developed throughout 2023 and went to public consultation in early 2024. Following tenant and industry feedback, new criteria and inspection mechanisms were introduced. It is now overseen by an independent implementation unit, commissioned by the GMCA but operating at arm’s length. The unit is run by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) and governed by a board that includes tenants, landlords and housing professionals.
Dennett emphasised how the scheme depends on collective commitment.
He said: “Whether you’re a landlord, a tenant, a third-sector organisation or a politician — the Good Landlord Charter will only work if we all take responsibility to make it happen.”
Not everyone shares his optimism.
Jane McCreedy, a 58-year-old landlord with rental multiple properties in Suffolk, believes a Good Landlord Charter – like the one proposed in Greater Manchester – would do little to address the real challenges faced by responsible landlords.
McCreedy said: “I’ve always gone above and beyond for my tenants.
“If something breaks, I’m there that same day or the next—sometimes even before I get round to fixing things in my own home.
“I take pride in being a good landlord, but there’s no badge or charter that’s going to change how I work.”
McCreedy argues that such schemes often miss the mark by focusing solely on landlord obligations without recognising the difficulties many face in dealing with problematic tenants.
She said: “My issues aren’t with the rules—they’re with the tenants who don’t pay rent, leave the place in a mess, or refuse to move out.
“I’ve had to go through court proceedings just to get people out. It’s stressful, expensive, and time-consuming. A charter doesn’t solve that.”
She worries that blanket schemes could end up alienating landlords who are already meeting high standards, while doing little to hold rogue operators or negligent tenants to account.
But others in the sector believe it can foster meaningful change — not only through accountability but through cultural shift.
Charlotte Puddy, director at Abode Property Management, said the scheme caught her attention precisely because it felt constructive. She said the Charter helps steer the industry away from a confrontational dynamic between landlords and tenants.
Puddy said: “For me, it’s about moving away from the landlord-versus-tenant experience.
“It’s very much about working together, and that really works for us.
“There are difficult times in the property world, and it’s about being there to support people through that,” she said.
Puddy explained that good management involves visibility. Rather than rely solely on digital communication, she regularly visits tenants in person, especially when issues arise.
She believes the scheme also helps challenge negative stereotypes.
Puddy added: “There are a lot of landlords who work hard to get things right but don’t get much recognition.
“This gives us a way to say: we’re doing it properly.”
While many landlords welcome the guidance, tenant groups say the real test is whether the Charter delivers long-term change for residents.
Mark Slater from the Greater Manchester Tenants Union said rising pressure on tenants has created an environment where poor housing conditions are too often tolerated because there are few alternatives.
He said: “You have a situation where tenants are under pressure to accept homes that are unsafe or unfit to live in. It affects your mental health, your job, your entire life.”
Slater shared his thoughts about the Charter saying it has the potential to give tenants more leverage, especially if landlords are proactive about informing residents of their membership. He argued that signing the Charter should be about action, not image.
He said: “It shouldn’t just be a badge of honour,
“The turning point will come when tenants don’t have to be told a landlord has signed up — they’ll know from the way they’re treated.”
Slater also called for enforcement against landlords who continue to fall short, saying he wants to see signatories who go beyond legal requirements — not just those using the Charter as a PR exercise.
Greater Manchester is adopting what the GMCA describes as a “twin-track approach” — celebrating good landlords while pursuing enforcement against bad ones. While the Charter is not legally binding, it does feed into wider regulatory efforts, including inspection regimes and partnership working with local councils.
They admit the challenge now is ensuring consistency. With over half of rented homes already covered by the scheme, the GMCA is hoping momentum will build.
Whether the Good Landlord Charter succeeds in transforming renting across Greater Manchester remains to be seen. But for now, GMCA hopes it will offer a framework – one shaped by tenants, landlords and the people who sit between the – for doing things differently.
Main image by Isobel Forbes
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