Seven councils including four London boroughs have been named and shamed for failings in their housing services.

They are among those to have received a ‘severe maladministration’ finding from the Housing Ombudsman.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has published the names of 18 landlords that have between them received 20 severe maladministration findings since September 2021.

Tendring DC, Great Yarmouth BC, Birmingham City Council and Hackney, Lambeth, Haringey and Ealing LBCs are some of the most serious cases dealt with by the housing watchdog, involving problems over an extended period with missed opportunities to resolve them.

Birmingham City Council was subjected to a wider investigation into its housing service following the finding against it last month.

It said it had ‘learned several lessons’ and is ‘working with its repairs contractor to develop improvements’.

The Ombudsman is also compiling a ‘special report’ on Lambeth LBC’s complaints handling, with the borough now carrying out additional training and hiring new contractors.

Responding to the finding against it, Hackney LBC said the cyber attack on the authority hindered its response, but a new ‘repairs charter’ was being developed.

Tendring DC apologised following the complaint against it in March and is reviewing its repairs process.

The now-defunct arm's length management organisation Homes for Haringey received a severe maladministration finding in February. 

Great Yarmouth BC said it was working to put things right following the finding against it in January.

Ealing LBC has also said new measures are in place to ensure its failings are not repeated.