Trafford council is believed to be the first to have signed up to a scheme created by Greater Manchester Labour Mayor Andy Burnham.

Birnham is currently recruiting 10 people to enforce a new initiative he’s calling his ‘Good Landlord Scheme’.

Publicity for the scheme says that “over the course of a three-year placement, trainees will develop a range of skills in housing enforcement, deploying the unique powers that officers have to advise landlords of their responsibilities and act where they find bad practices and poor-quality housing. They will work to support tenants struggling with homes that may be damp, cold, insecure, or structurally unsound, gathering evidence and taking legal action against the worst offending landlords.”

Now the first local council within Greater Manchester has been signed up. 

As part of the scheme, Trafford Council will initially be taking on one trainee and the successful applicant will work towards two nationally recognised professional enforcement qualifications, including an apprenticeship. 

James Wright, Trafford council’s executive member for housing and neighbourhoods, says: “Tens of thousands of residents live in private rented accommodation across Trafford. Each one of those residents wants their home to be looked after and properly maintained by their landlord.

“Landlords sometimes fail to carry out the necessary work and improvements and this can lead to huge problems for the tenants. That’s when housing enforcement officers can step in and take control by taking enforcement action against unscrupulous landlords. The Good Landlord Scheme is boosting the capacity of our local councils to carry out inspections and intervene.”

Burnham – who is also bringing forward a so-called Good Landlord Charter – says: “Hundreds of thousands of people living in the private rented sector in Greater Manchester rely on their landlords to uphold a decent standard and look after their homes. When those things are done properly, tenants can get on with their lives – but when they’re not, it can take a huge toll on their physical and mental wellbeing. In the very worst cases, it can pose a serious threat to their safety.

“That’s when housing enforcement officers have a vital role to play in supporting tenants and taking enforcement action against unscrupulous landlords. The Good Landlord Scheme is one way that we’re responding to this growing issue, by boosting the capacity of our local councils to carry out inspections and intervene.”

He says his new charter, to be unveiled later in 2023, “will help us drive up standards in the sector and deliver on our ambitions for greater control over housing in our city-region.”