Make a complaint about your council house or housing association home
- speak to your local authority or landlord.
- make a formal complaint and write to them following their complaints procedure.
- contact the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to look into your complaint if you are still unhappy.
In summary
Housing associations in Wales are regulated by the social housing regulator within Welsh government to ensure that they provide good quality homes and services.
Does the Housing Ombudsman cover Wales?
Complaining to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
If the council or housing association won’t carry out repairs to your home and you’ve tried using your landlord’s complaints procedure but you’re not satisfied with the result, you may be able to complain to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
Do housing associations have an ombudsman?
The Housing Ombudsman Service is responsible for complaints about council or housing association landlords. They can look at how your landlord dealt with your request for repairs. The Ombudsman decides if your landlord acted properly and followed the correct procedures.
What complaints does the Housing Ombudsman deal with?
Complaints referred to the Housing Ombudsman
- 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.
Is there a governing body for housing associations?
Housing associations are regulated by the Homes and Communities Agency.
What is a Section 21 Notice Wales?
Section 21 notice of seeking possession. You can use a Section 21 notice to evict your tenants either: after a fixed term tenancy ends – if there’s a written contract. during a tenancy with no fixed end date – known as a ‘periodic’ tenancy.
Does the Housing Act 2004 apply in Wales?
This guidance is given to local housing authorities in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government under section 9 of the Housing Act 2004 (referred to in this guidance as “the Act”). They are required to have regard to it in exercising their duties and powers under Part 1 of the Act.
When should you contact Ombudsman?
You can complain to an ombudsman if you’ve already complained to the organisation and couldn’t solve your problem through their complaints procedure.
Does the Ombudsman charge a fee?
Ombudsman Services is free to consumers. We are funded by the fee a company that is signed up to our scheme pays to have each complaint reviewed. This covers the cost of us handling the case.
Do housing associations have a duty of care to their tenants?
As a social housing landlord, the housing association is responsible for keeping your home safe, secure and in good condition. However, you’re also responsible for looking after some things – and it’s important to know what you should take care of and what you should ask your landlord to repair.
How long do housing associations have to fix problems UK?
It also provides for tenants to be compensated where repairs have not been completed within a prescribed period, which is usually 30 days.
What services do the ombudsman provide?
The Ombudsman examines complaints from people who feel they have been unfairly treated by certain public service providers. The Ombudsman service is free, independent and impartial.
What powers does the Property Ombudsman have?
The Ombudsman provides redress, where appropriate, to consumers whose complaints are considered on a case-by-case basis. The Ombudsman is not a regulator and does not have the authority to take regulatory or legal action against an agent, impose fines or dictate the way agents conduct their business.
Who is the Housing Ombudsman accountable to?
The Housing Ombudsman is Richard Blakeway.
We are an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Can I complain directly to the Ombudsman?
If you’ve received a deadlock letter, or if you’ve still not resolved the issue after eight weeks, you can bring your complaint to us. When you’re ready to start your complaint you’ll be asked to share details of your problem, evidence and some personal information, which we’ll use to assess the situation.
Who are housing associations owned by?
Housing associations are generally considered as private entities in that they are not owned or directly controlled by the state. This status, however, has been challenged by a number of legal rulings.
Can you FOI a housing association?
Housing Associations are not ruled by the freedom of information act, and therefore we are unable to pro… Response by Hyde Housing Association to Terry Tibbs on 5 May 2022 .
Social housing is provided by either housing associations (not-for-profit organisations that own, let, and manage rented housing) or the local council. As a social tenant, you rent your home from the housing association or council, who act as the landlord.
What makes a section 21 invalid Wales?
A Section 21 Notice will be invalid if the incorrect notice period is given. The notice period required by law changed from 2, to 3 months, to 6 months last year, therefore the notice period depends on the law at the time the notice was served.
What is Section 8 of the Housing Act?
A landlord must first serve a notice of intention to bring proceedings on the tenant. [1] The notice is commonly referred to as a ‘notice seeking possession’ (NSP) or a ‘section 8 notice’. Section 8 Housing Act 1988 requires the notice to state a date after which possession proceedings can start.