A council known for its vocal campaigns urging private landlords to improve housing standards has now been criticised for failing to meet those very standards in its own social housing stock. Recent data reveals that almost a quarter of Manchester City Council’s social homes have been classed as ‘non-decent’ over the last five years.
The information came to light following a Freedom of Information request submitted by Graham Coffey & Co Solicitors. The figures show that between 2020 and early 2025, around 2,968 council-owned properties failed to meet the government’s Decent Homes Standard at some point. This standard covers essential issues, including repair condition, safety, thermal comfort, and the provision of basic facilities.
Manchester City Council currently manages approximately 12,400 social housing properties. This means that nearly 24% of its entire social housing stock failed to comply with minimum housing standards during this period. In total, there were 3,068 individual failures logged, as some homes were affected by more than one problem.
A spokesperson for Graham Coffey & Co Solicitors highlighted the wider implications of these findings. “This is no longer about isolated cases – it’s a pattern affecting thousands of households. When nearly a quarter of all council homes fall short of minimum standards, it raises serious questions about the condition and resilience of the city’s housing stock,” they said.
The spokesperson went on to stress that tenants who followed the rules and paid their rent are the ones suffering. “These are the people who did the right thing – applied for housing, followed the rules, paid their rent – and they’re living in substandard homes. Too many of them are being left in limbo while their homes deteriorate around them.”
Interestingly, despite the scale of the issue, Manchester City Council reportedly did not record formal complaints about housing providers as organisations during this period. Instead, housing condition failures were documented through tenancy management systems and repair logs, based directly on reports from tenants. These logged failures formed the basis of the non-decent housing data.
The timing of this revelation comes just as the government has set out details for a new Decent Homes Standard for the private rented sector. This proposed standard largely mirrors the long-established standard already in place for the social housing sector. However, it appears that even with this standard in place, compliance has been an ongoing challenge.
The government’s consultation on the new Decent Homes Standard includes five main principles: homes must be free from Category 1 hazards; be kept in a reasonable state of repair; have reasonably modern facilities; meet updated thermal comfort and energy efficiency requirements; and be free from damp and mould.
The proposed implementation date for these new standards has been set for either 2035 or 2037, offering landlords and agents a lengthy lead-in period to prepare, particularly for meeting the new minimum energy efficiency standards expected by 2030.
In parallel, the government is proposing to strengthen enforcement powers available to local councils. This includes introducing the ability to levy larger fines, with penalties of up to £40,000 for failing to comply with enforcement notices, although the precise timeline for these new powers has yet to be confirmed.
These plans aim to bring both private and social rented properties to a higher standard over the coming decade. However, the situation in Manchester highlights that setting standards alone may not be enough if councils themselves struggle to meet them.
The contrast between the council’s advocacy for higher standards among private landlords and its own non-compliant housing stock raises important questions about accountability and resource allocation. It also highlights the scale of the challenge involved in ensuring every household has access to a safe, warm, and decent home.
As the government moves forward with the Renters Rights Bill and related reforms, it remains to be seen how quickly councils and landlords alike can bridge the gap between policy and reality on the ground.
Meanwhile, tenants in Manchester and elsewhere are left waiting for essential repairs and improvements, emphasising the need for sustained investment and effective oversight in the years ahead.
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