Housing Ombudsman shares learning from ‘complex’ leak cases 

We have published our latest severe maladministration report. This focuses on leaks, one of the primary causes of damp and mould in homes. 

The report looks at where landlords ineffective oversight of works made resolving the complaint more complicated. It also examines how gaining access to other properties, whether leaseholder or tenant, can complicate complaint resolution. 

Among the cases are residents reporting leaks leading to electrical hazards or collapsed ceilings. Other cases include residents not being prioritised despite recovering from cancer or children being exposed to potential hazards. In some cases rooms become uninhabitable and in others repairs were not completed until we investigated. 

The landlords highlighted in this report are: 

• A2Dominion
• Birmingham City Council
• Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association
• London Borough of Camden
• London Borough of Ealing
• London Borough of Lambeth
• London Borough of Tower Hamlets
• L&Q
• Onward Homes
• Riverside
• Southern Housing