Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on 20 July 2026, after previously serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester. His appointment has brought renewed attention to the policies and programmes associated with his regional record, including the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter.
That does not mean the Charter has suddenly become national policy. It remains a voluntary regional scheme for landlords with properties in Greater Manchester. No official announcement reviewed at the time of publication confirms that it will be introduced across England.
The Charter is nevertheless worth understanding. It provides a practical example of how Burnham previously approached landlord standards: asking participating landlords to work above the legal minimum, providing support to help them improve and maintaining separate enforcement against landlords who break existing housing law.
What is the Good Landlord Charter?
The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter is a free and voluntary scheme open to residential landlords with properties in: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
It covers both private and social landlords. The scheme is operated by an independent Implementation Unit delivered by The Dispute Service and overseen by a governing board that includes landlords, tenants and housing sector specialists.
The Charter originated as a mayoral commitment in 2021, was developed through consultation and formally launched on 26 June 2025. At its launch, more than 100 landlords had registered, representing approximately 234,000 homes across Greater Manchester.
Letting agents cannot become Charter Members unless they are themselves landlords. Agents can instead become Champions of the Charter, supporting its principles and encouraging eligible landlords to participate.
What is the difference between a Supporter and a Member?
The Charter has two main levels of landlord participation.
A Supporter must demonstrate that they meet their existing legal obligations and commit to working towards the Charter’s standards.
A full Member must provide evidence showing that they meet the applicable Membership criteria in practice.
This distinction matters. Registering as a Supporter does not mean that a landlord has already been independently recognised as meeting every higher standard.
The private rented sector assessment framework was finalised in late 2025, allowing Supporters to begin progressing towards full Membership. As of June 2026, the Charter was still working with landlords expected to form its first cohort of full Members.
What standards does the Charter contain?
The Charter contains 21 criteria arranged under seven themes:
- Affordable
- Inclusive
- Private and secure
- Responsive
- Supportive
- Well managed
- Safe and decent
The criteria include:
• A clear and fair rent review or rent setting process
• Reasonable time and support for tenants experiencing payment difficulties
• A route towards improving eligible properties to EPC C
• A demonstrable commitment to accepting tenants from different backgrounds
• Facilitating reasonable property adaptations where appropriate
• Entering a tenant’s home by agreement, except in an emergency
• Published response times and a clear complaints procedure
• Transparent tenancy information
• Appropriate landlord training, accreditation or the use of an accredited managing agent
• An effective approach to property inspections
• A clear start and end of tenancy process
• Repairs being completed by appropriately qualified or competent people
These standards sit above the basic entry requirement for becoming a Supporter. They should not be confused with legal obligations applying to every landlord in England.
Does every Charter landlord need an EPC C immediately?
No.
The Charter describes EPC C as its intended Membership standard, but it allows this to be achieved within an appropriate timescale.
Current private landlord guidance says that properties should meet EPC D as a minimum when a landlord becomes a Member, together with a plan to achieve EPC C. The Charter has referred to supporting landlords towards EPC C by 2028. Applicable legal exemptions may still be relevant.
It is therefore more accurate to describe the Charter as requiring a documented route towards EPC C than to suggest that every Supporter must already hold an EPC C rating.
Landlords must also continue to follow the statutory energy efficiency rules that apply to their properties. Charter participation does not replace those legal obligations.
What support is available to participating landlords?
Supporters can receive:
• Training and workshops
• Guidance from professional advisers
• Policy templates and compliance support
• Networking events
• Discounts from participating organisations
• Help understanding the route towards full Membership
Some Supporters may also be eligible to apply for energy efficiency funding through the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Grants of up to £30,000 have been advertised for qualifying private rented properties, but the funding is not automatically provided simply because a landlord joins the Charter.
Separate eligibility conditions apply to the landlord, property and tenant. These include requirements connected with the property’s EPC rating and the tenant’s income, benefits or location. The Charter explicitly states that not every Supporter will qualify.
The correct description is therefore that Charter Supporter status can provide access to apply for certain funding, not that every participating landlord receives a £30,000 grant.
Does the Charter punish landlords who do not join?
No. Participation is voluntary. A landlord is not fined merely for choosing not to become a Supporter or Member. Greater Manchester has also invested in enforcement against landlords who breach existing housing law, but this is a separate programme.
In a June 2025 report, Greater Manchester Combined Authority stated that its enforcement programme had produced a 42.9 per cent increase in the use of civil penalties over the programme period and approximately £1.47 million in penalties issued. These penalties related to breaches of housing law, not failure to join the Charter.
This creates what is sometimes described as a support and enforcement model:
Landlords who want to improve can receive advice, training and practical assistance.
Landlords who breach legal requirements can face enforcement through the ordinary powers available to local authorities. The two parts should not be confused.
Is the Good Landlord Charter now national policy?
No. Andy Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister does not convert a Greater Manchester initiative into national law.
His first speech as Prime Minister focused on political stability, regional empowerment and moving greater decision making power away from Westminster. It did not announce a national Good Landlord Charter or an equivalent landlord accreditation scheme. The Charter should therefore be treated as evidence of one part of Burnham’s regional record, rather than as a confirmed programme for the new government.
Future policy could draw on elements of the Greater Manchester approach, but there is not yet enough official information to say whether that will happen.
How does this relate to the Renters’ Rights Act?
National landlord regulation has already changed substantially through the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
The first phase came into force in England on 1 May 2026. It included the abolition of Section 21, changes to possession and rent increase procedures, restrictions on rental discrimination and stronger enforcement arrangements.
Further measures, including the Private Rented Sector Database, are scheduled to follow in later phases, with the database expected to begin rolling out from late 2026. These reforms were enacted before Burnham became Prime Minister. They should not be described as policies introduced by his government or as direct consequences of the Good Landlord Charter.
There is some overlap in the subjects addressed, including transparency, property standards, enforcement and professional landlord management. That overlap does not establish that the Charter was the source of the national legislation.
What might the Charter tell us about Burnham’s approach?
The Charter provides evidence of how Burnham approached one regional housing initiative while Mayor.
Its model combines:
- Voluntary participation
- Standards above the legal minimum
- Independent assessment
- Advice and financial support
- Separate enforcement of existing law
- A significant role for local and regional institutions
His first speech as Prime Minister also placed considerable emphasis on decentralising power and allowing regions to do more for themselves. It is reasonable to identify that broad consistency. It would not be reasonable to conclude that the Charter itself will necessarily be adopted nationally.
For landlords outside Greater Manchester, it is an example to observe, not a checklist they are presently required to follow.
Why do property inspections and inventories appear in the Charter?
The Charter’s safe and decent criteria include an effective approach to property inspections. Its well managed criteria also include clear start and end of tenancy processes.
Accurate, dated property records can help a landlord demonstrate:
- The condition of the property at the beginning of a tenancy
- What changed during the tenancy
- Whether repairs or safety concerns were identified
- What action was taken and when
- The evidence supporting an end of tenancy decision
- The distinction between existing condition, ordinary wear and new damage
This evidence is useful regardless of whether a landlord participates in the Charter.
Condition records should not, however, be used as a substitute for a transparent rent review process. A rent review requires its own written procedure and supporting information.
What this article does not claim
This article does not claim that:
- The Good Landlord Charter is national law
- Landlords outside Greater Manchester must join it
- The new government has announced a national rollout
- Every Supporter already meets all 21 higher standards
- Joining automatically provides access to £30,000
- A landlord can be fined merely for remaining outside the Charter
- The Charter created the Renters’ Rights Act
Any national policy announcement should be checked against current government guidance before a landlord makes changes based on it.
The takeaway
The Good Landlord Charter is a real and active Greater Manchester scheme associated with Andy Burnham’s record as Mayor.
It asks participating landlords to demonstrate legal compliance and work towards standards above the minimum. In return, it provides advice, training, recognition and access to certain forms of support.
Andy Burnham is now Prime Minister, which makes his previous housing record more nationally significant. But that political change does not make the Charter national policy.
For now, landlords outside Greater Manchester should treat it as a regional example rather than a new obligation. Their immediate responsibilities continue to come from the Renters’ Rights Act, existing housing law and any official requirements applying in their own area.
Position checked on 22 July 2026. This is a time sensitive policy article and should be reviewed if the government announces further housing or private rented sector measures.
What is the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter?
It is a free and voluntary scheme for private and social landlords with residential properties in Greater Manchester. Supporters demonstrate legal compliance and commit to working towards 21 standards covering affordability, inclusion, privacy, responsiveness, support, management and property condition.
Is the Good Landlord Charter national policy now that Andy Burnham is Prime Minister?
No. Supporters demonstrate legal compliance and commit to working towards the Membership criteria. Full Members must provide evidence showing that they meet the applicable higher standards.
Are Supporters already accredited as meeting every Charter standard?
No. Supporters demonstrate legal compliance and commit to working towards the Membership criteria. Full Members must provide evidence showing that they meet the applicable higher standards.
Can letting agents join the Charter?
Letting agents cannot become Members solely in their capacity as agents. Eligible agents can become Champions of the Charter, supporting its principles and encouraging landlords to participate.
Does every participating landlord receive a £30,000 retrofit grant?
No. Some Supporters can apply for grants of up to £30,000, but separate property, landlord and tenant eligibility conditions apply. Supporter status alone does not guarantee funding.
Can a landlord be fined for refusing to join?
No. The Charter is voluntary. Councils can take enforcement action where a landlord breaches housing law, but not simply because the landlord has chosen not to join the Charter.
Should landlords elsewhere in England prepare for the Charter to become national?
There is currently no confirmed national scheme to prepare for. Landlords should follow the Renters’ Rights Act and current official guidance while monitoring future government announcements.
