Measures forcing social housing landlords to repair unsafe homes were set out after the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from exposure to mould in Rochdale in 2020.
Patryk Behrendt, of Rochdale Borough Council, said it was “important to use our powers to the maximum to prevent any further tragedies like Awaab Ishak”.
“A lot of things in life start with a safe home – a house does not make a home until it’s safe,” he said.
Mr Burnham said the scale of the housing crisis was “much bigger than a team of thirteen”.
But their graduation signalled to young people that “if you dedicated yourself to committing to improving housing you will do so much to help peoples lives”, he said.
It comes ahead of plans to implement a Good Landlord Charter, a voluntary register of landlords committed to housing standards higher than those set by law.
Mr Burnham said the charter would expose those who “can’t or aren’t” prepared to sign up.
“The days of renting out homes that damage health of residents inside, drag down communities, are coming to an end.”
