Michael Gove names and shames ‘failure’ social housing landlords

The Housing Secretary Michael Gove has written public letters to 13 leading social housing landlords, including Notting Hill, Hyde and Sovereign, criticising their negligence and poor service towards tenants.

The letters are part of Mr Gove’s promise to ‘name and shame’ social landlords that let down tenants and come after a scathing report of severe maladministration from either the Housing Ombudsman or the Regulator of Social Housing against each of the landlords.

The social housing providers had failed to promptly address critical tenant concerns, including dealing with damp.

Addressed to seven housing associations and six local authority landlords, they include some of England’s largest housing entities, including Camden, Lambeth and Westminster.

Promise to expose landlords who have faced severe maladministration accusations

The ‘name and shame’ strategy follows a promise made last year by Mr Gove to expose landlords who have faced severe maladministration accusations – and those in breach of new consumer standards.

The aim is to boost transparency and accountability and drive up standards in the social housing sector.

Among the findings of maladministration, landlords had not addressed tenant concerns with Westminster council, for example, failing to address damp and mould issues in a tenant’s home for two years.

That’s despite having a four-month-old child living in the affected property.

Also, Notting Hill Genesis neglected to repair a faulty window that posed a safety risk for over a year and a half.

Reprimanded for subjecting a family to ‘damp and mouldy conditions’

This is not the first time that Mr Gove has written to Lambeth council – it was previously reprimanded for subjecting a family to ‘damp and mouldy conditions’ for six years – while failing to keep track of the ongoing complaint.

In each of the 13 cases, Mr Gove slammed the landlords’ performance and deemed their service as a ‘failure’ or said the level of service provided was ‘not acceptable’.

He also warns that he will monitor the future actions of these landlords closely.

The letters follow a series of controversies over the quality of affordable housing over the past few years.

Both the government and housing providers have intensified their efforts to improve the standard of existing homes through increased investment.

Other social housing landlords that have received letters include Catalyst Housing Association; Ealing Council; Inquilab Housing Association; Milton Keynes Council; Metropolitan Thames Valley Homes; Nottingham Council; PA Housing; Sovereign Housing Association; Tandridge Council.

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