The Housing Ombudsman has reported on an ‘imbalance of power’ in the tenant and landlord relationships, owing to a failure of landlords to address serious housing issues.

The Housing Watchdog has found that complaints about social housing are 5 times higher than they were 5 years ago, with complaints relating to: asbestos, electrical and fire safety issues, pest control and leaks, damp, and mould.

The Ombudsman has reported a breakdown in trust between landlords and tenants, with aging homes, rising costs, and skill shortages resulting in inadequate housing. Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway noted that tenants have “little say in the services they receive, however poor they are”, which is leading to increased frustration. He commented that whilst landlords do face funding issues, they need to approach tenants with dignity and respect; something that much of their communication is lacking.

The report found that 45% of the complaints investigated between January and March 2025 related to repairs. There were 1.5million children in England living in non-decent homes in 2023, and 19% of those are living in social housing.

The death of Awaab Ishak in 2020, caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his home, highlighted the ongoing, and sometimes fatal, issues within social housing. Whilst the unfortunate death of Awaab has resulted in Government efforts to enact change, the family are still waiting for measures to be enacted.

Under Awaab’s Law, Landlords will be required to address the most serious hazards within 24 hours. This is due to come into effect in October 2025, however some of the most critical measures relating to fire and electrical safety have now been postponed until 2026 and 2027.

The seriousness of these issues within social housing cannot be understated; more recently Akram Mohammed died tragically at just 15 weeks old. The family maintain that the mould in their home contributed to Akram’s death.

An inquest into Akram’s death has been opened and is currently adjourned until August 2025. Akram’s parents told ITV News that they made repeated complaints to the Local Authority and Housing Ombudsman, but that no one heard them.

The Housing Ombudsman has called for a “transformative overhaul” of the current system, stating that tenant’s voices need to be “strengthened” and landlord need to be held accountable.

Having represented Awaab’s family in the inquest into his death, Farleys know all too well the seriousness of social housing failures. If you or someone you know has experienced a familial death due to social housing failures, you can get in touch with us by speaking to a member of our specialist inquest team on 0845 287 0939, by email, or through our online chat below.