Andy Burnham, potential Labour Party leader and current Mayor of Manchester, has called for stronger government intervention in the private rented sector to tackle poor housing standards. He advocates for the use of compulsory purchase orders against landlords who fail to maintain their properties to a decent standard.

Compulsory Purchase Orders for Poor-Quality Housing

Speaking on the Social Housing Podcast, Mr Burnham proposed a “three warnings and you’re out” policy. Under this approach, landlords who do not invest in improving their properties after being given clear deadlines would face compulsory purchase of their homes. He emphasised the need for simpler powers to intervene in areas with a concentration of substandard private rented housing.

As Mayor, Mr Burnham launched the Good Landlord Charter, which now covers half of Manchester’s rented homes. The charter aims to recognise responsible landlords while discouraging criminal landlords who rent out unsafe properties.

Supporting Responsible Landlords

Mr Burnham explained the dual purpose of the Good Landlord Charter: “We have a Good Landlord Charter, to recognise those who do the right thing. However, bad landlords tarnish the whole sector. We hope that over time the charter will become a badge of pride for responsible landlords.”

He added that landlords who choose not to join the charter will become increasingly identifiable and should not be allowed to continue renting out homes that harm tenants’ health.

Advocating the Housing First Philosophy

Mr Burnham also expressed strong support for adopting the Finnish “housing first” philosophy nationally. He remarked, “I still strongly believe in Housing First as the national philosophy. We really haven’t had that approach in this country since the post-war years, when decent housing was understood to be the nation’s top priority.”

He criticised the commodification of housing since the 1980s, stating, “If you see housing purely like that, you end up with a housing crisis, and that’s exactly where we are.”

Calls for Increased Funding and Reform

Amid his selection as the Labour candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election and reported ambitions to become Prime Minister, Mr Burnham highlighted the need for greater investment in housing policy. He noted progress over the past five years, including the Renters’ Rights Act and the £39 billion funding secured for social housing by Angela Rayner.

“We continue to argue for the maximum to be devoted to social housing. I would actually devote all of it to social housing,” he said.

Mr Burnham also called for significant reform of Homes England, criticising its current micromanagement approach. He suggested the organisation should act more as an investor, backing city regions like Greater Manchester to deliver housing projects with accountability based on overall outcomes rather than individual schemes.

What this means for landlords

Mr Burnham’s proposals signal a tougher regulatory environment for landlords who fail to maintain decent housing standards. The introduction of compulsory purchase orders after repeated warnings would increase pressure on landlords to invest in their properties or risk losing them. Responsible landlords may benefit from initiatives like the Good Landlord Charter, which aims to recognise and support good practice in the sector.

Landlords should also be aware of potential reforms to Homes England’s role and increased funding focused on social housing, which could influence the broader housing market and policy landscape.

Source: Based on reporting from Property118

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TLA update

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