Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take further steps to hold to account housing associations which do not provide adequate maintenance and repair services to their tenants.

Brandon Lewis

Registered providers are required to comply with the Home standard. This requires them to provide a cost-effective repairs and maintenance service which has the objective of completing repairs right first time. If the Social Housing Regulator finds that a registered provider has failed to comply with the standard and that there has been, or is a risk of, serious harm to tenants, it can issue a Regulatory Notice and could if appropriate take enforcement action against those providers.

A tenant with a complaint against their landlord should raise it with their landlord in the first instance. Should the complaint remain unresolved tenants can contact a Designated Person (a local housing authority councillor, MP or recognised tenant panel) who has a role in seeking to resolve disputes and complaints. They can also take the matter to the Housing Ombudsman.