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Gove warns Clarion that failures ‘must end’ as he considers ‘appropriate action’
Housing secretary Michael Gove is considering “appropriate action” against Clarion over “repeated failures” after the landlord was issued with its fourth maladministration finding this year.
In the latest case, the UK’s largest housing association was criticised by the Housing Ombudsman for its “unacceptable” handling of a resident’s request to be removed from a tenancy.
Maladministration was also found in the landlord’s complaint-handling.
Clarion was also handed severe maladministration notices in April, May and July this year and was the subject of a wider investigation by the ombudsman.
In response to the latest findings, Mr Gove said: “Once again, Clarion has failed its tenants and refused to treat people with respect.
“This must end. After four maladministration notices in one year, I am now considering appropriate action.”
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Responding to Mr Gove, a Clarion spokesperson said: “We note the comments from the secretary of state. We are looking forward to meeting him and discussing how we can work together to tackle the housing crisis.”
Relations between the housing secretary and Clarion have been strained this year as he has attempted to tackle the wider problem of poor social housing conditions.
In May, Mr Gove criticised the 120,000-home landlord when he said he was “deeply disappointed” over its failure to meet "fundamental standards”.
Last week, he named and shamed six housing associations, including Clarion, for their “unacceptable” behaviour, while revealing he had written to them about their conduct.
The focus on the condition of social housing has intensified following a coroner’s report on the shocking death of two year-old Awaab Ishak, who died from from a respiratory illness caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s one-bedroom housing association flat.
Speaking on the Today programme last week, David Orr, chair Clarion Housing Association, said he welcomed a meeting with Mr Gove, but claimed the housing secretary had ignored “at least two” requests for meetings during his previous stint in the role.
Clarion previously came under fire for the squalid conditions seen at the Eastfields Estate in Mitcham, south-west London.
On the latest severe maladministration finding, a Clarion spokesperson said it was “extremely sorry for how this case was managed”.
They added: “Our resident had every right to be removed from the tenancy and we failed to manage the process appropriately.”
