The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration in Hackney Council’s three-year failure to properly fix a leaking roof.
According to the watchdog, a repair was carried out promptly when the resident first reported the leak, but it did not fix the problem.
Further repairs were carried out 21 months after the leak was reported, although the ombudsman said it remained unclear whether the issue was fully resolved.
It said the resident’s children have respiratory issues due to the conditions at the property.
Housing ombudsman Richard Blakeway said: ‘There were repeated lengthy delays in investigating the issue and completing works in this case.
‘These and the landlord’s handling led to significant distress and inconvenience, impacted the resident’s insurance claim and ability to repair her home and caused her understandable concern about the impact of the living conditions on her family, which includes vulnerable young children.’
The ombudsman ordered Hackney Council to support the resident to make an insurance claim, pay £1,500 in compensation and carry out a wider review of its handling of reports of leaks.
Hackney Council said: ‘This has been a lengthy and complex case but one we have not dealt with properly and leading to it falling short of the standards we and our residents expect.
‘We are sorry for the distress this has caused the resident and her family.’
