Javid to consider new housing complaints system

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid will consider options to ensure that no-one is left battling with their landlord or builder to resolve issues with their home.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government says that the current scheme leaves thousands having to manoeuvre between at least four different services just to work out where to register a complaint. It therefore is launching an eight-week consultation to use people’s experiences to shape a simpler and better complaints system.

This could consider introducing a single housing ombudsman to cover the whole of the housing market or ‘naming and shaming’ poor practice to help tackle the worst abuses.

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid said: “For too long, tenants and homeowners have navigated multiple complaints procedures to resolve disputes about everyday household repairs and maintenance. Fixing this housing crisis is about more than just building homes, it’s ensuring people have the answers available when something goes wrong. This top-to-bottom review shows government is working hard to deliver a better and simpler system.”

From April, the government is introducing new measures to crack down on rogue landlords to ensure tenants are not being exploited by unscrupulous landlords who profit from providing overcrowded, squalid and sometimes dangerous homes.