By Richard Blakeway, the Housing Ombudsman

Page 40 of the 2007 Cave Review into social housing regulation, commissioned by the last Labour government, contains a surprising nugget. It reported how the Housing Ombudsman had seen complaints about repairs slip to the second most likely reason for escalations to them. What a difference 18 years has made.

For several years property condition has dominated our casework, especially damp and mould, and our Annual Complaints Review for 2024-25 revealed a 43% increase in findings on disrepair. This is disproportionately high, even with the substantial rise in investigations being closed during that year. The maladministration rate has also remained stubbornly high in this space too.

Read the full article from HQM here.