New housing officers say some homes 'horrendous'

Newly-trained housing officers in Greater Manchester said they have been "shocked" by the "horrendous" state of some of the homes they have inspected.

Thirteen apprentices have graduated to bolster the ranks of enforcement teams in each of the city region's ten districts.

It comes ahead of plans by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham to introduce a Good Landlord Charter in May 2025.

Holly Collier, 25, of Stockport Council, said there were lots of good landlords, but "we want to get the ones that are not doing their bit".

The new "army of enforcers" have been trained up to help councils who had "lost capability over the years", Mr Burnham said.

Each has been inspecting both public and private properties as part of their training, before their graduation on Friday.

"Some of the visits are just really eye-opening, some of the conditions I've seen are just horrendous," Ms Collier said.

"Our role is important to get out there and enforce so people have a safe and comfortable home."

Nathan Fowles, of Trafford Council graduated as he celebrated his 21st birthday and said improving housing had to be a priority.

"Some of the situations I've seen, no-one should be living like that," he said.

Measures forcing social housing landlords to repair unsafe homes were set out after the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from exposure to mould in Rochdale in 2020.

Patryk Behrendt, of Rochdale Borough Council, said it was "important to use our powers to the maximum to prevent any further tragedies like Awaab Ishak".

"A lot of things in life start with a safe home - a house does not make a home until it's safe," he said.

Mr Burnham said the scale of the housing crisis was "much bigger than a team of thirteen".

But their graduation signalled to young people that "if you dedicated yourself to committing to improving housing you will do so much to help peoples lives", he said.

It comes ahead of plans to implement a Good Landlord Charter, a voluntary register of landlords committed to housing standards higher than those set by law.

Mr Burnham said the charter would expose those who "can't or aren't" prepared to sign up.

"The days of renting out homes that damage health of residents inside, drag down communities, are coming to an end."

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