Complaints about poor social housing conditions rise 43%

Complaints from social housing tenants in England have soared by 43% in just one year.

According to the Housing Ombudsman Service, poor property conditions remain the main issue, with thousands of people reporting issues like damp, mould, heating and long delays in repairs.

This included: 

• a household forced to cover a ceiling hole with bin bags for two years, because they were afraid of asbestos
• a resident living without heating or hot water for three years
• a child’s bedroom window boarded up for four years, leaving the family worried about excess cold

In total, the Ombudsman made 26,901 interventions last year to put things right, and around 40% of compensation related to leaks, damp and mould.

What you can do

Living in a substandard home can affect your health, your finances and your quality of life.

But there are some practical steps you can take to address these issues.

Know your rights

If you live in social housing, councils and housing associations are legally responsible for keeping properties in decent condition.

And if they don’t, you can make a formal complaint or take your case to the housing ombudsman.

Don’t ignore warning signs

It’s worth recognising the signs of poor housing so you can act on issues as quickly as you can.

Look out for:

• persistent damp or mould
• broken windows, doors or roofing
• unsafe gas appliance or electrics
• low temperatures in your home, especially if you’re paying a lot for heating 

Keep a record of any problems

If you’re reporting issues like damp, broken heating or unsafe electrics, then:

• take dated photos or videos so you have evidence
• keep copies of any correspondence with your landlord or letting agent

These could be vital if you need to escalate the issue later on.