The ‘Good Landlord Charter’ scheme pioneered by Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, is missing out on input from agents, according to Propertymark.

The voluntary scheme allows landlords from the private and social sectors to commit to standards which exceed the minimum demanded by the law, and intends to help tenants recognise and identify landlords who are committed to higher standards. Letting agents have a role in promoting and championing the charter. 

Propertymark has pledged their support for the scheme, which opened for registration earlier this month. However, the trade body believes it should include a clearer role for property agents and allow letting agents to be members of the charter, especially as research from Greater Manchester Combined Authority revealed that over 40% of tenants used a letting agent.

Propertymark has argued that letting agents are more likely than individual landlords to be able to prove they have accreditation and training, they can help provide transparency on rent allocation, signpost information, and meet necessary standards. 

Furthermore, the trade body pointed out that it is a legal necessity for a letting agent to join a government-approved redress scheme and possess client money protection – standards not currently required for individual landlords. However, this would help guarantee enhanced consumer protection and ideally should be utilised by the charter, Propertymark insisted.

Tim Thomas, policy and campaigns officer at Propertymark, said: “The Good Landlords Charter, in its proposed form, will be a missed opportunity to engage with letting agents. It is important to all involved that they demonstrate good practice, but so far, the Good Landlords Charter for the Greater Manchester area only includes private and social landlords. 

“It is disappointing that there is no current provision for agents to engage with this process. Propertymark will continue to promote the Good Landlords Charter but remain keen for agents to play a much greater role within the process.”

The professional body has also written to all the elected mayors to encourage them to consider a greater role for letting agents if they are considering mirroring the charter for their own areas, with the Liverpool city region mayor, Steve Rotheram, and the West Yorkshire mayor, Tracy Brabin, highlighting a proposed landlords charter in their election manifestos.