Article summary
The Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) has found severe maladministration for Onward Homes. The landlord had failed to repair the resident’s heating which was on full and would not turn off during the summer months, despite multiple reports to the landlord. This resulted in the resident, who suffers from a progressive neurological condition which affects her speech and movement, collapsing several times, only to be found by her son on at least two different occasions. Over a four-month period, the landlord ‘regularly appointed the wrong contractors’ for the repairs, resulting in no permanent repairs being undertaken. The landlord offered a £50 goodwill gesture and an apology letter, which was declined by the resident and attempts to raise a formal complaint by the resident’s son was unsuccessful as the son had ‘no authority to discuss her [the resident’s] tenancy’. The HOS has ordered the landlord to apologise to the resident, pay £1,000 in compensation and ensure it is updated on...
To continue reading this news article, as well as thousands of others like it, sign in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial