Bev Craig, Labour's mayoral candidate for Greater Manchester, has pledged to transform the city-region's housing landscape through a comprehensive strategy unveiled ahead of the 30 July election. At its heart is a commitment to introduce rent controls and strengthen landlord regulations, alongside ambitious targets for affordable housing.
Craig, who leads Manchester City Council, says a "good home is the foundation of a good life" – a sentiment she knows well from her own experience in council housing. Her vision is to deliver more genuinely affordable homes than have been built in a generation, protecting green spaces and tackling homelessness across Greater Manchester.
A key plank of her strategy is the establishment of a Commission on Rents, which will investigate how rent limits or controls could be implemented locally while seeking national powers. This commission would lay the groundwork for potential future legislation. Additionally, Craig intends to bolster the Good Landlord Charter by making its sign-up compulsory for landlords seeking local funding – such as for retrofit schemes.
Her manifesto also targets Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), proposing limits on their numbers in areas with high concentrations through expanded Article 4 directions and smaller HMO regulations. This would help reduce overcrowding and anti-social behaviour. To support tenants, Craig plans to create a Greater Manchester-wide Renters’ Rights Unit, tasked with enforcing renters' rights and taking action against errant landlords.
The strategy also includes an "empty homes plan" – using Empty Dwelling Management Orders and compulsory purchase powers to bring derelict properties back into use. The measures are central to Craig's vision for Greater Manchester's housing future, set out as the region prepares to go to the polls on 30 July.