The government is due to launch a major advertising campaign that will encourage social housing tenants to complain about ‘shoddy and dangerous’ housing.
According to The Independent, housing secretary Michael Gove said the campaign will “shine a light” on rogue landlords. It will also encourage tenants to voice complaints to landlords and then to the housing ombudsman.
The government’s focus on social housing follows the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his home. Since the event, the government has created ‘Awaab’s Law’ which ensures landlords fix hazards in social housing in a “timely fashion” or rehouse tenants in safe accommodation.
“We are shining a light on rogue landlords that ignore their tenants time and again and allow families to live in disrepair,” Michael Gove said. “Too many social housing tenants are being let down and ignored. This government is determined to stand up for them and give them a proper voice. They deserve a decent, safe and secure home, just like everybody else.
“So we are shining a light on rogue landlords that ignore their tenants time and again and allow families to live in disrepair. This campaign will make sure tenants know their rights and how to make a complaint – giving them the confidence to go to the Ombudsman and ensure action is taken.”
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Launching across England until the end of April, the adverts will also feature across radio and music streaming platforms.
Housing ombudsman Richard Blakeway added: “Effective complaint handling starts with landlords getting things right first time. If and when things do go wrong, landlords must fix the issue, apologise, offer appropriate compensation, and show they have learned from those errors. If that doesn’t happen then residents can take their complaint to us at the housing ombudsman. We’re free, independent and impartial in order to help residents and landlords find a resolution to their complaint.”
Soon to become law, the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill hopes to strengthen social housing regulation.
