The terraced houses off Matthews Lane in Levenshulme look typical of many of Manchester’s streets. But there is something that makes them stand out.
Almost two-thirds of the properties on this estate are rented out by landlords. Manchester council estimates that 170 of the 264 homes in these streets are privately rented properties – a higher proportion than average across the city.
Across Manchester, around 90,000 homes are part of the private rented sector, accounting for 38 pc of housing in the city. However, the sector remains largely unregulated, allowing rogue landlords to go unchecked.