Reinventing the Private Rental System
As of the 2021 census, over 25% of households in England and Wales rent their homes from private landlords. Regulations in the private rental market, particularly regarding property conditions, are inadequate. This project responds to the increasing number of people living in unsanitary, unaffordable, insecure, and dangerous conditions. With the Renters (Reform) Bill shelved until after the next general election, research into the worsening housing crisis is especially urgent.
At the core of this project is a tenant-focused private rental system. This model envisions a shift from the traditional landlord-centric structure to one where tenants have greater control and influence over their living arrangements and related policies. The project is structured into three strands: reforming the private rental system, improving existing housing stock, and developing better build-to-rent schemes. It aims to address longstanding issues such as affordability, security of tenure, rogue landlords, and living conditions.
The tenant-led build-to-rent scheme reverses traditional hierarchies by making tenants active contributors to the planning, design, and management of their housing. St. Gabriel’s Hall in Rusholme is the pilot site, and test-bed, for this project, a joint venture between Manchester City Council and the Greater Manchester Tenants Union. This partnership allows the tenants' union to act as both developer and client, prioritising tenant requirements and participation. The project explores strategising, educating, retrofitting, and new build development to provide improved living accommodation designed with and for the local community. It also serves as an educational site for practitioners, landlords, and tenants about their roles in the private rental sector and the housing crisis.
Ultimately, this project aims to demonstrate the viability and benefits of a tenant-focused rental system. By empowering tenants and fostering collaboration, it seeks to create sustainable, equitable, and high-quality rental housing as a template for future developments in the private rental market.
