Ombudsman calls for action on ASB incidents in social housing

The housing ombudsman has released a new report spotlighting critical shortcomings in how social housing landlords address antisocial behaviour (ASB) complaints.

There’s also an emphasis on hate incidents, noise and delayed repairs.

The document, ‘Learning from Severe Maladministration’, identifies seven key areas where landlords are failing tenants, resulting in significant distress.

It details harrowing cases, such as one tenant who recorded 115 instances of nightly noise but received only delayed and inadequate responses from their landlord.

Need for neighbourhood management

Richard Blakeway, the housing ombudsman, said: “Like all tenures, ASB can happen. But because social tenants can move less easily, the importance of good neighbourhood management is even greater.

“This ensures the benefits of building strong roots in communities through longer tenancies does not tip into feeling trapped when there is ASB.”

He added: “This report asks why we repeatedly see similar failings.

“I have met with some inspirational practitioners working on ASB since our last severe maladministration report.

“Their openness around learning lessons and absence of defensiveness is positive.”

Social housing ASB issues

The report also highlights one resident who endured a 14-month wait for repairs to smashed windows.

Another faced a 22-month delay for door repairs that could have mitigated noise issues.

In some instances, tenants felt so neglected that they terminated their tenancies, abandoning homes meant to provide safety and stability.

The ombudsman’s findings focus on social housing landlords including Dartford Council, Guinness Partnership, Hackney Council, Hexagon Housing and Luton Council.

The list also includes L&Q, Metropolitan Thames Valley, Peabody, Sanctuary, Tower Hamlets Community Housing, Waverley Council and Yorkshire Housing.