William Eichler 29 May 2025

Housing ombudsman raises alarm over 474% surge in repair complaints

Housing ombudsman raises alarm over 474% surge in repair complaints image
High rise apartment building in Watford. © Peter_Fleming / Shutterstock.com.

The housing ombudsman has warned that ‘simmering anger’ at poor housing conditions could result in social unrest as his office reveals a dramatic increase in repair complaints.

The ombudsman’s latest Spotlight report, titled Repairing Trust, has warned of a national crisis in the maintenance of England’s social housing stock.

It found there had been a 474% increase in complaints concerning substandard living conditions in social housing between 2019-20 and 2024-25.

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of the complaints stemmed from poor practice, including missing records and patterns of poor diagnosis, delays and quality assurance.

Housing ombudsman Richard Blakeway described the current model for maintaining social homes as ‘unsustainable’ and called for the establishment of a national tenant body.

‘Without change we effectively risk the managed decline of one of the largest provisions of social housing in Europe, especially in areas of lowest affordability,’ he said.

‘It also risks the simmering anger at poor housing conditions becoming social disquiet.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Chief Executive

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
up to £165,000
Ebbsfleet is one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects, a 21st-century Garden City Ebbsfleet, Kent
Recuriter: Ebbsfleet Development Corporation

Virtual School Inclusion Support Officer

Essex County Council
£32768.0000 - £38550.0000 per annum
Virtual School Inclusion Support OfficerPermanent, Term Time£32,768 to £38,550 per annum (full time equivalent)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Business Development Officer

Essex County Council
£36341.0000 - £42754.0000 per annum
Senior Business Development Officer - Integrated Passenger Transport UnitFixed Term, Full Time£36,341 to £42,754 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Adults Social Worker - Neighbourhood Team

Essex County Council
£37185 - £50081 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid Working
Interview dates
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Investment Marketing and Web Officer CDC

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 8, £33,708 - £37,399
The postholder should be experienced in planning social media activity, refreshing web content and analysing their impact. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council
Linkedin Banner