Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has written to two councils, Lambeth Council and Hackney Council, and to Clarion Housing Group about findings of severe maladministration by the Housing Ombudsman.
In a letter, addressed to Dawn Carter-McDonald, CEO of Hackney Council, the Housing Ombudsman raised concerns over “failures to make repairs to a home which left vulnerable residents living in poor conditions”. The Housing Ombudsman is a non-departmental government body that manages complaints about social housing.
Hackney Council was found to have failed to repair a leaking roof for three years, meaning a family of five had to sleep in one room. It said one child developed respiratory issues.
Meanwhile Mr Gove’s letter to Lambeth Council is, at last count, the fourth time of writing and contains six new findings of “severe maladministration”. In one case it took four years to register a complaint and carry out a repair of a broken pipe. Another resident has been waiting four years for a replacement to a damaged window.
One vulnerable resident reported mould, among other issues. CREDIT: HOUSING OMBUDSMAN
One vulnerable resident was left with several outstanding repairs including damp and mould, a damaged door and blocked drains. The letter criticises the Council stating, “unbelievably, this situation was not rectified for 5 years”.
The Housing Ombudsman asked Lambeth Council to meet with Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Lambeth Council declined to comment. Clarion Housing Group have already arranged to meet with Baroness Scott.
Clarion Housing Group said: “We have apologised sincerely to the residents in these three cases, for the shortcomings in the service we have provided them, and have gone to lengths to consider what we can learn to continuously improve”.
Hackney Council are making improvements
Hackney Council have set in motion an improvement strategy. CREDIT: MALIN HAMILTON
In a statement, Cllr Clayeon McKenzie, Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Resident Participation in Hackney said that in 2022 they “set in motion [an] improvement journey”. She said “the strides we have already made have seen enhancements not just in how we deliver our services but also in the satisfaction levels of our residents”. Mr Gove recognised these changes in his letter, but said he would “be taking a personal interest in the changes”.
They say “the basis of the investigation announced by the Housing Ombudsman are cases from before we started our improvement work.
“While we have made strides we know there is still much we need to do. We will work with the Ombudsman throughout their investigation to look at all ways we can continue to build on the work we are doing to improve our service for the benefit of all our tenants”.
However, she also blamed reductions in government funding for impacting their ability to deliver services they want to.
Commercial Director for Housing Disrepair Helpline, Will Angood, questioned this saying that it is “down to poor management”. He said “they have the money to pay legal fees for claims against them so they obviously have the money to fix the housing stock”.
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HeadlineHousing Ombudsman finds ‘severe maladministration’ in Lambeth and Hackney Councils
Short Headline'Severe Maladministration’ in Lambeth and Hackney Councils
StandfirstThe Housing Ombudsman has written to the two councils over findings of severe maladministration with regard to complaint responses and home repairs.
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has written to two councils, Lambeth Council and Hackney Council, and to Clarion Housing Group about findings of severe maladministration by the Housing Ombudsman.
In a letter, addressed to Dawn Carter-McDonald, CEO of Hackney Council, the Housing Ombudsman raised concerns over “failures to make repairs to a home which left vulnerable residents living in poor conditions”. The Housing Ombudsman is a non-departmental government body that manages complaints about social housing.
Hackney Council was found to have failed to repair a leaking roof for three years, meaning a family of five had to sleep in one room. It said one child developed respiratory issues.
Meanwhile Mr Gove’s letter to Lambeth Council is, at last count, the fourth time of writing and contains six new findings of “severe maladministration”. In one case it took four years to register a complaint and carry out a repair of a broken pipe. Another resident has been waiting four years for a replacement to a damaged window.
One vulnerable resident reported mould, among other issues. CREDIT: HOUSING OMBUDSMAN
One vulnerable resident was left with several outstanding repairs including damp and mould, a damaged door and blocked drains. The letter criticises the Council stating, “unbelievably, this situation was not rectified for 5 years”.
The Housing Ombudsman asked Lambeth Council to meet with Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Lambeth Council declined to comment. Clarion Housing Group have already arranged to meet with Baroness Scott.
Clarion Housing Group said: “We have apologised sincerely to the residents in these three cases, for the shortcomings in the service we have provided them, and have gone to lengths to consider what we can learn to continuously improve”.
Hackney Council are making improvements
Hackney Council have set in motion an improvement strategy. CREDIT: MALIN HAMILTON
In a statement, Cllr Clayeon McKenzie, Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Resident Participation in Hackney said that in 2022 they “set in motion [an] improvement journey”. She said “the strides we have already made have seen enhancements not just in how we deliver our services but also in the satisfaction levels of our residents”. Mr Gove recognised these changes in his letter, but said he would “be taking a personal interest in the changes”.
They say “the basis of the investigation announced by the Housing Ombudsman are cases from before we started our improvement work.
“While we have made strides we know there is still much we need to do. We will work with the Ombudsman throughout their investigation to look at all ways we can continue to build on the work we are doing to improve our service for the benefit of all our tenants”.
However, she also blamed reductions in government funding for impacting their ability to deliver services they want to.
Commercial Director for Housing Disrepair Helpline, Will Angood, questioned this saying that it is “down to poor management”. He said “they have the money to pay legal fees for claims against them so they obviously have the money to fix the housing stock”.
