Newham Council has been ordered to pay £5,400 after the London borough took three years to resolve damp and mould issues in one of its properties.
The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration against the council after it failed to deal adequately with damp and told the resident to clean the resulting mould himself.
The resident also raised safety concerns because the damp areas were affecting the light fittings and fuse box. An operative made sure the electrics were safe but noted ‘severe water penetration’ from the bathroom.
Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman, said there were ‘significant failings’ with how the council dealt with the resident’s complaint.
‘On multiple occasions throughout the course of the complaint, a lack of proactive action and poor communication, both with the resident and internally, contributed to significant delays,’ he said.
A Newham Council spokesperson said: ‘Our priority is providing safe, decent homes for our residents and dealing with any issues brought to our attention swiftly, effectively and with compassion. We apologise unreservedly for failing to meet our high standards in this instance.’
