A pioneering enforcement scheme in Greater Manchester has generated 50% more in fines (£1.5 million) from rogue landlords over the past two years than it did in the previous two.

The initiative, led by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, has resulted in ten specialist teams issuing 113 civil penalties against criminal landlords – a 43% increase.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester (pictured), says the pilot scheme represents says the pilot scheme represents a significant boost to enforcement efforts.

Neil Tonge and Helen Baskett, housing enforcement officers in Wigan, told The Times that under the new rules, they have tackled cases involving cannabis farms, brothels and overcrowded properties.

New powers

Their enhanced powers allow them to caution and interview landlords, access trading standards databases and issue fines up to £30,000 – the maximum civil penalty available. Although these powers came into force in 2016, many councils rarely use them.

The scheme is part of Mayor Andy Burnham’s Good Landlord Charter. He says: “For years now, local councils have been left reeling by a combination of growing pressures and squeezed resources.

With this new generation of enforcement officers, we are stepping up and strengthening local enforcement teams.”

“With this new generation of enforcement officers, we are stepping up and strengthening local enforcement teams, so that we can do more to crack down on bad housing practices.”

It has been funded through £1.5 million from GMCA’s Housing Investment Loans Fund, creating 10 new trainee roles. Wigan’s team, for example, has increased penalties from zero to 20 in 12 months, with Baskett noting that word is spreading among landlords.

Baskett says: “We used to send an enforcement letter telling landlords to repair something after an inspection, and just be ignored.

“Now the landlords talk to each other. They’ll say, ‘I got fined £10,000, so you’d better do as they say or it will be you next.'”

The Greater Manchester model is being watched carefully by other local authorities, and its success is likely to mean they will soon be setting up similar schemes of their own.