The Housing Ombudsman has published a report highlighting significant failings in social landlords' management of disability adaptations and mental health needs. Based on 35 investigations, the report reveals systemic issues including prolonged delays in implementing crucial adaptations, inadequate communication with vulnerable residents, and failures to make reasonable adjustments as required by the Equality Act. Notable cases include a 27-month delay in installing urgent adaptations for a child undergoing chemotherapy and an eight year period where a resident was largely confined to one room due to wheelchair accessibility issues. The Ombudsman emphasises the need for landlords to develop more human-centric service provision and address the 'callous and uncaring' systems and processes exposed through these investigations. This report follows the Ombudsman's previous Spotlight report on attitudes, respect and rights, underscoring the ongoing challenges in addressing vulnerabilities in social housing.

The Housing Ombudsman Service has published a special investigation report into the London Borough of Camden's landlord services, uncovering significant shortcomings in complaint handling and service delivery. The investigation, prompted by a high volume of severe maladministration findings, examined 57 complaints and identified an 83% maladministration rate for 2023-2024. Key issues include a defensive complaints culture, persistent disrepair problems and inadequate support for vulnerable residents. While the council has implemented some improvements, the Ombudsman has requested a comprehensive action plan to address the report's recommendations, emphasising the need for cultural change and improved processes in complaint handling, repairs management and support for vulnerable tenants. The Ombudsman will continue to monitor progress as Camden Council works to enhance its housing services.

The Housing Ombudsman has shared its latest learning from its severe maladministration report on landlords' response to window complaints. The report comes just a month after the Ombudsman's open letter to Chief Executives on the issue, where concerns were raised over the approaches of landlords to window repairs following more serious findings in investigated cases. The report is part of a series providing lessons to help the sector prepare for the anticipated introduction of Awaab’s Law, in whatever form it takes.

The Housing Ombudsman (HO) has published its latest Insight report on shared ownership complaints, in which it sets out nine key tests which the HO could potentially use in the future to assess shared ownership complaints. These key tests are informed by issues that arise from sales process, defects, cladding, repairs, charges and managing agents and free holders. The report further highlights the limitations of what the HO can do for shared owners, including on issues such as defects and the sales process.

A round-up of the latest news from the Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS), including the launch of its consultation on the 2026–27 Business Plan as complaint volumes reach record levels.

A round-up of the latest news from the Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS), including an independent review has identified crucial areas requiring improvement in Aster’s ‘living roofs’ management.

A round-up of the latest news from the Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS), including the publication of a severe maladministration report examining damp and mould cases, coinciding with Awaab's Law coming into force on 27 October 2025.

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. Background Private finance initiatives (PFIs) have enabled local authorities to enter into contracts with the private sector for the provision of new and/or improved capital assets (infrastructure for example) and related services. Support has been provided by central government departments towards the cost of the capital element of PFI projects. December 2012 saw the closure of the PFI contracting programme and its replacement by a new approach to public private partnerships to be known as ‘PF2’. This note deals with PFI with limited reference to PF2 since housing has to date not been included within the types of projects approved under PF2. In housing PFI schemes local housing authorities (LHAs) contract with a consortium of private sector firms to design, build, improve, finance, manage and maintain the social housing stock provided under the contractual arrangements. While management of the housing becomes the responsibility of the private sector contractor, the local authority continues to own the housing and retains its tenants. Designed

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced that the Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, convened a roundtable with leading UK housing developers and industry bodies, issuing a 'call to arms' to advance the government's target of building 1.5 million homes in this Parliament. The meeting, attended by representatives from 17 organisations including Vistry Group, Taylor Wimpey, Berkeley, Persimmon, the Home Builders Federation and Homes England, focused on upcoming planning reforms, removing barriers to development and speeding up construction.

Local Government analysis: An impressively argued and complex Judicial Review judgment involving a decision by the defendant local authority to exclude the claimant from its housing allocation scheme on the basis of her history of anti-social behaviour. The case examines in some detail the exclusion provisions within the scheme, whether the treatment of the claimant breached the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010), and how far any allocation scheme must include an element of residual discretion. Written by Kevin Long, Solicitor at Hackney Community Law Centre.

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. FORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025. For guidance regarding the Act’s impact on residential tenancies in England, see Practice Note: Renters' Rights Act 2025—key provisions. STOP PRESS: The Housing and Planning Act 2016 received Royal Assent on 12 May 2016, although the provisions relating to recovering possession of abandoned premises set out in Part 3 are not yet in force. The contents of this Practice Note are therefore provided for information only until such time as they are brought into force. This Practice Note relates to the recovery of abandoned residential premises let under an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) by private landlords in England only. Background The provisions introduced by Part 3 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (HPA 2016) are designed to allow private landlords to recover possession of abandoned residential premises more easily, with the intention that more rental property will become available to

Income-related benefit to assist with the costs of rent (to a private landlord or in respect of a council dwelling).