Regional rent controls could move a step closer after Labour’s Bev Craig won the Greater Manchester’s mayoral election with a promise to clamp down on the private rented sector.

Andy Burnham’s replacement aims to explore rent caps or controls through a new commission, expand Article 4 Directions for HMOs, strengthen the Good Landlord Charter, and link local funding for retrofitting to charter compliance.

Her win looks likely to impact HMO growth and local planning requirements in the region, and although she currently can’t impose private rent controls outright, there are fears that Greater Manchester could be used as a policy testing ground.

It comes as the new Prime Minister has announced that English mayors will be given a share of income tax revenues for the first time, and handed greater control over decisions on jobs, transport, housing and public services in their area as part of his devolution plans. The new powers will take effect next spring, when mayors will begin retaining a greater share of business rates.

Manifesto

In her manifesto, Craig vowed to set up a region-wide renters’ rights unit to support renters, enforce the Renters’ Rights Act and take action on bad landlords, along with a special commission on affordable rents. She said: “The UK has not devolved powers for rent controls - I will call for national powers and, in the meantime, set up a commission on rents to look at how rent limits, caps or controls would work for Greater Manchester.”

The Good Landlord Charter would be strengthened, requiring any landlord who wants local funding, such as retrofit schemes, to sign up, while a new no empty homes plan would allow the empty homes team to conduct an emergency audit of empty homes across Greater Manchester and a plan to get them back in use, she promised.

Control

“Where needed we will take control of empty and derelict homes by securing powers to force their sale, deploying Empty Dwelling Management Orders, and using compulsory purchase,” Craig added.

The election turnout – 25% - was the lowest of the four Greater Manchester mayoral elections since the role of an elected mayor for the region was created.

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