Independent Housing Ombudsman
The Housing Ombudsman Service is set up by law to look at complaints about "registered" housing providers, including housing associations and other landlords, managers, and agents. The service is free, independent and impartial.
If you think your landlord has provided a poor service or managed your home badly, they can look at your complaint. They can also advise landlords on how to run an effective complaints procedure.
The Housing Act 1996 (amended by the Housing & Regeneration Act 2008) requires all social housing providers to belong to the Service. It includes all providers registered with the Tenant Services Authority, such as landlords, managing agents, and developers. The Service also covers non-social housing providers which have joined it voluntarily.
The Ombudsman’s power to investigate complaints is set out in the law. Where he has power we will investigate a complaint to establish what is “fair in all the circumstances of the case.” They can then make orders or recommendations to put things right – or to improve service in the future.
The Ombudsman looks at complaints after the final stage of a landlord’s own complaint process. Consumers have the right to bring their complaint, if they are unhappy with the result of the landlord’s complaint process.
www.ihos.org.uk
