Labour’s candidate in today’s key by-election is promising a dramatic clampdown on many elements of the private rental sector.

Bev Craig is the Labour candidate for the Greater Manchester Mayoral election. It was caused by the move by Andy Burnham to become an MP and consequently Prime Minister.

Her manifesto promises to limit HMOs in areas which have “too many” and to expand the use of Article 4 Directions, which force investors to seek council planning consent before turning a property into an HMO.

Craig also pledges the creation of a Greater Manchester-wide Renters Rights Unit “to support renters, enforce the Renters Rights Act and take action on bad landlords.”

She says Burnham’s Good Landlord Charter – in existence in the region for some three years – needs strengthening, and she will force any landlord who wants any local funding for activities like retrofitting to sign up for the charter.

On top of all that she will create a special commission on Affordable Rents, and while she accepts the Mayor’s position does not have power to enforce private rent controls, she will campaign for such powers to be devolved to her if she wins. 

In the interim she will “set up a Commission on Rents to look at how rent limits, caps or controls would work for Greater Manchester.”

Craig has a raft of other housing pledges – such as compulsory purchase of some empty properties – in addition to those in other policy areas. 

The poll takes place today across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.