Workstream

Healthy homes for all

A healthy, safe place to call home is the cornerstone of a healthy, happy life.

Everyone will live in a good, warm, safe place they can call home. With support from the Government, our Housing First approach and unit will turn the tide on the housing crisis.

Over the coming decade, we will have built new homes and improved existing ones, driven up standards for renters, reduced the number of people living in temporary accommodation, and ensured residents have the support they need to access, improve and retain a decent, affordable home.

We’ll do this by increasing the housing supply, aiming to build 75,000 new houses by 2030, including 10,000 energy efficient homes for social rent. Our Integrated Pipeline will deliver homes across our boroughs, and our investment approach will unlock private sector investment.

Housing standards will be improved, with the Good Landlord Charter exposing poor landlords and supporting the many good ones. Meanwhile, we’ll address the challenges people face in finding and keeping a home of their own, with wraparound support schemes and programmes for people at risk of homelessness.

Case study

Raising the standards – how healthy homes are the foundation of a good life

Adetoun spent months living in a damp, mouldy home with her three children – all of whom needed hospital treatment due to the conditions. When her landlord refused to act, Wigan Council stepped in. A housing enforcement officer issued a prohibition notice, helping Adetoun move to a safer home. Leanne, a housing officer in Bolton, who started her career as an apprentice, sees cases like this every day and works to protect tenants and improve health outcomes. The Good Landlord Charter is designed to support this work – and with backing from groups like the National Residential Landlord’s Association, represented by Chris, it’s helping raise standards across Greater Manchester.

"The Good Landlord Charter is really, really important as it is looking to improve standards within the private rented sector."

[Leanne Ratcliffe, Housing Enforcement Officer, Bolton Council]

Leanne: Hi, I'm Leanne, I'm a Housing Standards Enforcement Officer and we're here in Bolton to talk about the importance of good quality housing.

Our role is to go out to properties that are in the private rented sector and the complaint usually comes from a tenant who is experiencing housing disrepair.

One of the main issues is damp and mould. We deal with cockroaches, bed bugs rat infestations no heating or hot water provision.

It goes way more about fixing the house. These people, it should be their place of solace. They should be able to go into their home and feel safe.

The Good Landlord Charter is really, really important as it is looking to improve standards within the private rented sector.

There are good landlords out there and it's all about having an accreditation in place where they can be part of and show that they are a good landlord within the borough.

[Leigh, Wigan]

[Adetoun Olubori, Wigan tenant]

Adetoun: When I moved into the house, the house was okay. But fast forward to six months. I started noticing damp coming up. My daughter started feeling sick. She was very in a bad shape. They had to take her to A&E.

I challenged the landlord. He wouldn't do anything. There was no way he was taking accountability for it. It caused me a lot of anxiety.

Wigan Council came out and listened to me. My voice was heard. So they took us out of the property and took us straight in temporary accommodation for now.

Having a house in a conducive and healthy environment is a relief to me. I know that I'm not alone in this battle.

[Chris Norris, Director of Policy, National Residential Landlords Association]

Chris: What's different about the Good Landlord Charter in Manchester is that it is trying to focus on the good. I think far too often when we get involved with local schemes or initiatives, they are completely understandably, really focused on enforcement.

And what we saw here is that balance really. You know, it wants to allow local authorities to enforce against the bad, against the criminals, but also to highlight the work that's being done by good landlords in the social and the private sector. And it's something we'd love to see replicated across the country.

Leanne: So there you go, the Good Landlord Charter, raising standards for rented properties across Greater Manchester.

Case study

A place to call my own – how responsible regeneration is helping foster real communities

For a long-time, finding a place to call home seemed out of reach for Toby. He'd suffered life-changing injuries while working as a carer and spent years either sofa-surfing or living in temporary accommodation. Toby’s life changed for better when he was was offered a new adaptable-ready apartment by Irwell Valley Homes as part of their regeneration of the Sale West estate in Trafford. The major regeneration project is an example responsible placemaking that takes on the needs of its community, working with residents to build a sustainable future for the area.

"I speak to residents that were in last year's phase that are now in fantastic eco-efficient housing, and they love it. And they are now part of our estate."

[Toby, Resident, Sale West]

Toby: I had a couple of difficult years. I ended up becoming homeless.

Through the help of the homeless support, I ended up getting into supported accommodation.

And I was there for a year, and then this golden goose showed up out of nowhere. And I've been here now two years this December.

I have knee and nerve damage. My mobility is probably not going to get better as I get older.

As someone with a lot of anxiety, I have stress induced psychosis and I have recently been officially diagnosed with autism.

So, it's been a godsend this flat. The stability that brings is phenomenal.

[Sasha Deepwell, Chief Executive, Irwell Valley Homes]

Sasha: So, we believe that everyone deserves a good quality home and that's what Irwell Valley is determined to provide here.

Sale West regeneration has been really focused on meeting diverse needs of all the community.

Anything you build at social housing has a massive demand, but we think it's really important to make sure that that demand reaches all parts of the community.

In Phase Two, we made sure that 40% of the homes built were readily adaptable for people's physical needs.

There's level access, turning circles for moving around in a wheelchair, wider doorways, lower light switches.

Now in Phase Three, we've got truly affordable net zero homes, which is really the crème de la crème in terms of sustainability.

We've also been investing in the existing homes on the estate. We've invested around five million so far and there's a plan for future investment.

[Ralph Rudden, Chair, Our Sale West]

Ralph: My family have been in this area for 50 odd years. This was a thriving estate. It was a slow decline from being the jewel in the crown to being described in the local press as "the crime-ridden Racecourse Estate."

The catalyst for everything that has happened to improve the estate was 25 years ago when Irwell Valley bought the estate from the council.

That has been a continuous rolling programme over the last 25 years.

We've now got the next stage of the regeneration programme. We've got three phases to be complete.

I speak to residents that were in last year's phase that are now in fantastic eco-efficient housing, and they love it. And they are now part of our estate.

Toby: I don't have to be in survival mode anymore, which means I can put that energy back into my friends, my family, my community, which is awesome.

[Together we are Greater Manchester]

A woman who uses a wheelchair next to a man. They are viewing flowers that are set out on tables on the pavement as part of a market stall..

Our pledges

By 2030 there will be at least 10,000 new, energy efficient homes for social rent across all 10 local authority areas.

  • By 2027 we will be building more social housing than we are losing through Right to Buy.
  • By 2030 everyone living in rented accommodation will have the right to request a property check under the Good Landlord Charter.

Read all our pledges

Workstreams

Safe and strong communities

A transport system for a global city region

A clear line of sight to high-quality jobs

Everyday support in every neighbourhood

A great place to do business

Digitally connected places and people