New North East mayor Kim McGuinness has vowed to seize properties from irresponsible landlords as part of her plan to stand up for renters.

The former Northumbria police and crime commissioner also wants to introduce a landlord and letting agent fines and prosecutions database.

She says: “We’ll set the standards for rental properties, and I’ll work with local councils to seize properties from the landlords who refuse to take responsibility, so we can hand those properties over to social landlords.”

Speaking to LabourList last year, McGuinness, who represents two million people living in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham, said too many people had to struggle every day with landlords who won’t deliver on housing standards rights.

“I want this to be the best place to live, and that means everyone deserves a good home,” she explained. “I want to work with our councils to show residents we are on their side; we need to be naming and shaming rogue landlords and kicking the worst of them out of the sector.”

More homes

McGuinness has promised to build thousands of homes on brownfield land to the greenest standards in the country and adds: “We need to build more homes, and we’ll commit to building the greenest out there, but devolved decision making has to mean something to people who are renting.”

Other metro mayors have made similar pledges to introduce good landlord charters including West Yorkshire’s Tracey Brabin and Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, who wants to “rewire the rental system” as part of a £600,000 package of measures which includes a new Property Check scheme for tenants whose landlords won’t work with the council voluntarily, followed up with enforcement action.