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Ombudsman launches probe into London council after repeated damp and mould failures
The Housing Ombudsman has launched a wider investigation into a London council over its repeated damp and mould failures.
In a letter to Islington Council, the watchdog said that it intended to carry out the probe because of its poor handling of damp and mould reports and resulting complaints.
It has also sped up two new high-risk damp and mould cases against the council.
The wider investigation will establish whether the continued complaints point to a wider failure within the council.
It was initiated following a review of the landlord’s casework.
Of the cases determined between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, the ombudsman made four maladministration findings in the five damp, mould and leaks complaints the service investigated.
So far this year, it has found maladministration or reasonable redress – where the landlord identifies its own service failure – in all the damp, mould and leaks complaints determined.
The council also featured in the watchdog’s Spotlight report in October 2021, where it had the 10th-highest number of damp and mould cases looked into by the ombudsman.
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Richard Blakeway, housing ombudsman, said: “After repeated failures in this area over the past year, I have been alerted to two new damp and mould complaints concerning the landlord that have been assessed as high risk.
“Under the circumstances, I have instructed my team to expedite these investigations.”
He said other cases with the ombudsman concern similar issues and may indicate a “repeated failing”.
“At the end of the monitoring period, we will publish a learning report highlighting any issues we have identified in the cases investigated and make recommendations to the landlord where appropriate,” he said.
Una O’Halloran, the council’s executive member for homes and communities, said the local authority will welcome the ombudsman’s team and support the investigation.
“It’s vital all our tenants live in homes that are free from damp and mould.
“We know that in some cases, we have fallen short of the high standards our residents deserve.
“We are very sorry about this and are urgently reviewing these cases.”
She said the council is now actively reviewing all damp and mould cases from the past three years and contacting residents to make sure the issue was resolved.
The local authority is also investing an extra £1m to recruit specialist surveyors, and to pay for more insulation and ventilation to tackle damp and mould.
Ms O’Halloran said: “In addition, we’re developing training for non-specialist housing staff to identify damp and mould concerns when visiting homes on other issues – for example, for staff carrying out gas compliance checks.”
In July, the ombudsman launched an investigation into Birmingham City Council following a case that saw the local authority take four months to repair a “high volume” water leak.
In November, Mr Blakeway requested a meeting with Lambeth Council, expressing concern “at the high level of failure” seen in his casework since he issued a special report for the authority in February.
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