Manchester Council's Failure to Comply with Law

6.54.39pm GMT Wed 1st Feb 2006

Manchester City Council have been criticised for withholding important information from tens of thousands of tenants in the city.

Councillor Paul Shannon, who speaks on Housing issues for Manchester's 38 Liberal Democrat Councillors, has discovered that the Council has failed to comply with a new law requiring them to inform tenants of their "right-to-buy" and the costs & responsibilities of home ownership.

Statutory Instrument 1735 came into force in July 2005, placing a duty on each Council to publish an information leaflet on the "right-to-buy" by 26th September 2005. But Manchester Council have still not yet done this.

Councillor Shannon said today:

"I had to write to the Council three times to get them to respond & admit what I suspected - that they have failed to comply with the law. The deadline was last September, yet the Council still haven't produced the information for tenants!"

He added:

"Manchester Council are in breach of the law. Tenants have a legal right to this important information. Tenants want to know how a mortgage compares with renting, or what happens if their income drops - that's why getting this leaflet out to tenants is so essential."

Councillor Shannon concluded:

"Other Councils in Greater Manchester have complied with this law, so I don't see why Manchester Council should be any different. This leaflet needs to be published as soon as possible."

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