Which ombudsman for social housing complaints?

This fact sheet sets out the social housing complaint categories that should be referred to either the Housing Ombudsman or the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

In 2013 the Housing Ombudsman took over responsibility for all new complaints about social housing. This includes complaints about local authority’s (or arms-length management organisation’s) relationship as landlord to its tenants or leaseholders. The Housing Ombudsman continues to look at complaints about housing associations.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman considers complaints about local authorities’ wider activities, for example in discharging their statutory duties in homelessness. There are areas where there may appear to be some overlap between the jurisdiction of the two Ombudsmen. We are both able to conduct joint investigations, and work under a Memorandum of Understanding.

Complaints referred to the Housing Ombudsman

Unless stated otherwise the Housing Ombudsman considers complaints about housing associations and local housing authorities.

Main issue Things the Housing Ombudsman investigates
Leasehold services
  • Shared ownership and sales processes for leasehold properties
  • Shared ownership stair-casing
  • Full ownership and sales processes for leasehold properties owned by housing associations
  • Right to buy and right to acquire for tenants of housing associations
  • Repair responsibilities under the lease
  • Mortgage rescue schemes
  • Leasehold services provided by the landlord
Moving to a property
  • Transfer applications that are outside Housing Act 1996 Part 6
  • Type of tenancy offered
  • Mutual exchange
  • Decision to renew a fixed tenancy
  • Decants (including those that are dealt with via (the local housing authority's) allocation policy)
  • Mobility Schemes
Rent and service charges
  • Rent or service charges
Occupancy rights
  • Terms and conditions of occupancy rights
  • Succession
  • Assignment
  • Ending a tenancy (such as notice periods)
  • Abandonment of property
  • Possession proceedings
Property condition – repairs and improvements
  • Condition of the property when first let (such as void works)
  • Responsive repairs
  • Planned maintenance or cyclical works
  • Improvement works carried out by landlord or tenant
  • Rechargeable repairs
  • Disabled adaptations
Tenant behaviour
  • Anti-social behaviour
  • Noise nuisance
  • Harassment
Estate management
  • Cleaning or repairs of communal areas
  • Boundary issues
  • Grounds maintenance
  • Parking linked to occupancy agreement
  • Parking
  • Use of communal areas
Complaint handling
  • The landlord’s handling of a complaint in their complaint process, including delays
Compensation
  • Home loss or disturbance payments
  • Improvements carried out by the tenant
  • Payment for damage to property or tenants' belongings
  • Discretionary payments

Complaints referred to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

Unless stated otherwise the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman considers complaints about local authorities.

Main issue Things the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigates
Housing allocations under Housing Act 1996 Part 6
  • Applications for re-housing that meet the reasonable preference criteria (dealt with by the local housing authority or any other body acting on its behalf, which could include a housing association). Includes complaints about:
    • Assessment of such applications, the award of points, banding or a decision that the application does not qualify for reasonable preference
    • Operation of choice based lettings schemes and about the suitability of accommodation offered under those schemes.
Homelessness under Housing Act 1996 Part 7
  • Applications for assistance under the homelessness legislation (dealt with by the local housing authority or any other body acting on its behalf, which could include a housing association). Includes complaints about:
    • Homelessness advice and homelessness prevention activities
    • How applications are dealt with and decisions about eligibility for and allocation of interim and temporary accommodation.
    • The condition or suitability of temporary accommodation.
General housing advice
  • General advice from the local authority about housing options
  • Handling of reports from tenants of private landlords about unlawful eviction, harassment and other matters
Housing benefit
  • Handling of applications for housing benefit
Housing improvement grants
  • Applications for mandatory and discretionary housing improvement grants. Includes complaints about:
    • Provision of advice, processing of applications, preparation of schedules of work, payment of grant and other decisions on grant eligibility and entitlement
    • Actions of social services occupational therapy services with regard to assessment and eligibility for disabled facilities grant
Antisocial behaviour
  • Antisocial behaviour which does not fall within the remit of a social landlord.
Noise nuisance
  • Reports of statutory noise and other nuisance to environmental health services
Sale or disposal of land on housing estates
  • Applications or requests to buy parcels of land owned by local authorities
  • Sales processes for properties owned by local authorities
  • Right to buy and right to acquire for tenants of local authorities
Planning and building control at properties owned by a social landlord
  • Applications for planning permission
  • Planning enforcement
  • Applications and enforcement under the building regulations
Adult social care
  • Delivery of adult social care services, including that done by registered social landlords