The annual complaints review by the Housing Ombudsman found 32 social housing landlords with a high failure rate between 2021 and 2022.
The report highlighted 59% of tenants had complaints regarding the condition of the property, also stating that property condition remains the biggest concern for social housing tenants.
How can social housing landlords improve their properties?
Future proofing property is a great start to keeping tenants happy. By upgrading a buildings’ energy efficiency, this can avoid bigger problems down the line and save on bills in the long term.
There are many defects landlords need to be aware of though. From mould to foundation cracks, these can cause significant problems for your property and put tenants in danger.
A Chartered Building Surveyor can assess properties and their energy efficiency, providing individually tailored advice on any works and statutory regulations set out by the government.
Service failures
The Housing Ombudsman identified 32 landlords with a high failure rate. 66% of complaints were in relation to complaint handling, followed by 59% concerning property condition where there had been service failures by the landlord.
The condition of the property can easily be kept up to date with building surveying services, which can identify any existing problems, potential risks, and how best to approach defects in the most cost-affective manner.
More than 50% of maladministration was found in the decisions of the landlords, five of which surpassing 75%.
Cutting corners when it comes to the upkeep of your property can be more costly than investing in the necessary upgrade works, which can save landlords fortunes down the line.
60% of landlords believe they are learning from their tenants, however, just 36% of tenants say that making a complaint helps educate landlords.
The number of residents who found it easily accessible to contact their landlord regarding a complaint dropped from 68% to 51%.
It’s not just about maintaining your property effectively, it’s also about ensuring tenants are comfortable and safe, which comes from having a well looked-after property.
Social Housing landlords can generate more profit from their properties if they are in good condition.
