Complaint Handling Failure Order (CHFO) reports
What are Complaint Handling Failure Orders?
Complaint Handling Failure Orders are issued in relation to failings in an individual case where we have taken reasonable steps to seek engagement from a landlord, but the resident remains unable to progress a complaint. They may also be issued where there is evidence of a systemic issue within a landlord’s complaint handling. We share this information with the Regulator of Social Housing.
We use our orders, along with other information from cases handled, to generate insight about individual landlords. This can be used as the basis of discussions if there are continued concerns over a sustained period.
Complaint Handling Failure Order guidance
Type 1 and 2 Complaint Handling Failure Order (CHFO) Guidance
The purpose of Type 1 and Type 2 complaint handling failure orders (CHFOs) is to ensure that a landlord’s complaint handling process is accessible, consistent and enables the timely progression of complaints for residents, in line with the Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code.
Type 3 Complaint Handling Failure Order (CHFO) Guidance
The purpose of Type 3 complaint handling failure orders (‘CHFOs’) is to ensure that landlords comply with the statutory Complaint Handling Code (‘the Code’).
Guidance on complaint handling failure and orders
Landlord guidance on determinations of complaint handling failure and orders.
Guidance on effective involvement of governing bodies
Effective involvement of governing bodies: best practice guidance for landlords.
2024
January to March 2024
From January to March 2024, we issued 38 Complaint Handling Failure Orders, of which 18 were not complied with. On the back of this, the Ombudsman has again written to those organisations who did not comply with more than one CHFO.
2023
October to December 2023
From October to December 2023, we issued 24 Complaint Handling Failure Orders, of which 10 were not complied with. 17 of the orders we issued this quarter were Type 1, 7 were Type 2 with none being issued for Type 3.
July to September 2023
We issued 51 complaint handling failure orders, of which 14 were not complied with. This is the most CHFOs we have ever issued in one quarter but also a decrease in the number of non-compliance compared to the previous quarter, falling from 42% to 27%
April to June 2023
We issued 43 complaint handling failure orders with 18 of those not being complied with, the most non-compliance we’ve ever had in one quarter.
January to March 2023
We issued 40 complaint handling failure orders for 32 landlords. The majority of those, were Type 1 CHFOs, with 2 being Type 2 and 3 being Type 3. Of those, 12 were not complied with and further action was taken.
2022
October to December 2022
We issued 38 complaint handling failure orders to 27 different landlords. While less than the previous quarter (45), it is the most type 3 orders we have issued. Out of the 38 orders, there were 10 of non-compliance.
July to September 2022
We issued 45 complaint handling failure orders during this quarter, all types 1 and 2. In 39 cases the landlords complied and there were 6 cases of non-compliance.
April to June 2022
We issued 22 complaint handling failure orders during this quarter, all types 1 and 2. In 17 cases the landlords complied and there were 5 cases of non-compliance.
January to March 2022
We issued 32 complaint handling failure orders during this quarter, all types 1 and 2. In 21 cases the landlords complied and there were 11 cases of non-compliance.
2021
October to December 2021
We issued 18 complaint handling failure orders during this quarter. There were no cases of non-compliance.
July to September 2021
We issued 27 complaint handling failure orders during this quarter, including 1 in relation to a landlord not meeting the requirements within our Complaint Handling Code. In 24 cases, the landlord complied with the orders and there were 3 cases of non-compliance.
April to June 2021
We issued 23 complaint handling failure orders during this quarter, 18 while the complaints were still within the landlord’s own complaints process and 4 in our formal remit.
January to March 2021
We issued 10 complaint handling failure orders during this quarter, all while the complaints were still within the landlord’s own complaints process. In 8 cases, the landlord complied with the orders and there were 2 cases of non-compliance.