Full Article – Record social housing complaints probed by ombudsman – BBC News
Serious failures or delays by social housing landlords have more than quadrupled in the past year, according to the Housing Ombudsman Service.
Among a record high 5,109 escalated complaints, “severe maladministration” cases rose from 31 to 131.
These occur where there are excessive delays in taking action, or no consideration of tenants’ vulnerabilities.
Ombudsman Richard Blakeway called the figures a “sobering overview”.
Social housing tenants rent their homes from a housing association or council, who act as the landlord.
Property condition was the leading cause of complaints, accounting for 37%, with complaints handling coming second.
The significant rise in complaints is likely due to various factors, including poor property conditions, media attention, and the inquest into the death of Awaab Ishak, the ombudsman said.
Two-year-old Awaab died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his home.
His death caused an outcry and saw the passing of Awaab’s Law as part of the Social Housing Act, which requires landlords to fix reported hazards in social housing in a “timely fashion” or rehouse tenants in safe accommodation.