Trafford Council signs up to The Good Landlord Scheme

Trafford Council has signed up to a Greater Manchester-wide scheme to take action against landlords who are failing to maintain their properties. 

The Greater Manchester Good Landlord Scheme, which is being funded through £1.5m from the Housing Investment Loans Fund, hopes to improve housing standards in the private rented sector, boost local enforcement and improve access to advice and support for local residents, tenants and landlords.

The trainee programme, which is creating 10 new roles across GM, is part of a three-year package of measures that also includes on-the-job training for officers and support for tenants and landlords.

As part of the placement, trainees will learn a range of skills in housing enforcement 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.

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. 

Cllr James Wright, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods, said: “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.”

The Good Landlord Scheme is part of Greater Manchester’s ongoing response to the pressures on housing enforcement capacity following nationwide budget constraints and the significant increase in people living in the private rented sector.