The Housing Ombudsman has released a special spotlight report addressing the issue of damp and mould, called “Spotlight on: Damp and mould. It’s not lifestyle”
It is the result of both the media spotlight on social housing conditions (ITV News with Dan Hewitt prominent amongst them), and what is described as “the high uphold rate and reoccurring reasons leading to maladministration” in the Ombudsman’s case work. (Of 410 complaints investigated, 56% resulted in findings of maladministration, 501 orders were made to put something right with 288 additional recommendations, and £123,094.57 in compensation was ordered across 222 cases, with sums over £1,000 being ordered in 21 cases.)
There is a league table of the worst performers, councils and housing associations, with some reaching maladministration findings in 91% of investigated complaints (A2 Dominion since you asked).
There are 26 recommendations, all aimed at moving social landlords from a reactive to a proactive approach, and improving their complaints and response systems.
The whole is well worth reading. There are inevitably, given that this comes from the Ombudsman, some bits that claimant lawyers will disagree with (the Ombudsman is generally not keen on tenants taking legal action). For example, in a section on the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, the report says
This is not necessarily the most effective route to resolution for residents as some registered providers will settle the claim out of court while the underlying disrepair issue remains outstanding.
I’d have to say if that was allowed to happen, the tenant’s lawyers would be at fault. Any settlement should of course include an enforceable commitment for repairs, within a set period. Sadly, enforcement action then has to be taken quite often when the landlord doesn’t carry out or complete works, but at least enforcement is possible, unlike an Ombudsman decision/order.
But this is a niggle in what is otherwise a well considered report, with recommendations that all social landlords should indeed put into practice.
In a passage that will no doubt raise applause from a lot of affected tenants, and those who act for them, the Ombudsman says:
This leads to the most sensitive area – the inference of blame on the resident and the associated onus on them when it is often not solely their issue. Our call for evidence revealed an immense frustration and sense of unfairness at the information residents are sometimes provided by landlords about issues like condensation and mould. This reoccurred so often it is appropriate to call it systemic. I met with residents who spoke about feeling patronised, even stigmatised. While I appreciate this is not intended, I would urge engagement with residents to review communication and literature, working together with them to co-design meaningful advice that shares responsibility and supports them at a distressing time. In doing so I hope the word ‘lifestyle’, when it may be a consequence of limited choices, is banished from the vernacular.
The routine refusal by landlords to accept that there are issues with a property, and to blame the tenant for the problems (‘open the windows, keep the heating on, keep the bathroom and kitchen door closed’ etc etc.) has been a huge issue for getting damp and mould dealt with. (It also doesn’t make practical sense if the bathroom and/or kitchen aren’t provided with adequate ventilation. It just ensures mould in those areas).
It is perhaps unfortunate timing for them that in the same week as the report, a housing association, Housing For Women, released a guide to tenants for ‘Managing Mould and Condensation’ which states, at page 2
“Making sure your home is free of mould and damp is not only important for your health, but it is also your responsibility as a tenant.”
The Ombudsman’s recommendations might have some way to go to being realised…
PS . ITV News Dan Hewitt has an interview with the Ombudsman on the report here.