High standards: Developing a property improvement model for the private rented sector in Greater Manchester

Despite this growth, there remain persistent issues with housing quality in the sector: approximately 25 per cent of all PRS homes in Greater Manchester are classed as ‘non-decent’. At the same time, around 15 per cent of all households across tenures in Greater Manchester live in fuel poverty – some of the highest rates in England.

The need to improve housing quality in the PRS is clear; too many tenants live in poor-quality, unsafe accommodation that impacts their health. A decline in the number of available social homes, a lack of central government investment to build more social homes, and the unsuitability of social rented housing for many tenants, mean that an improved PRS is vital for a functioning housing system in Greater Manchester.

In this report, we have sought to develop a financial model for improving private property in Greater Manchester.