Which landlords saw the most ombudsman activity this week
This week, London & Quadrant Housing Trust topped the list with 968 total decisions on record by the Housing Ombudsman Service as of today's date. ombudsman-roundup-week-2026w19 Among these, 289 decisions involved severe maladministration findings, reflecting a significant number of serious issues reported by tenants.
Clarion Housing Group Limited came in second with 791 total decisions, and 65 of those were marked with severe maladministration. This indicates that the severity of complaints against Clarion is considerable within its tenant base.
Peabody Trust was third, with 523 total decisions recorded, including 107 cases of severe maladministration findings.
What "severe maladministration" means
The Housing Ombudsman Service categorises their findings into three tiers: severe maladministration (the most serious), maladministration (a formal finding), and service failure (the least severe). Severe maladministration is defined as a breach of legal duty or very poor decision-making that leads to significant harm, loss, or injustice for tenants. This classification highlights the severity and impact of issues reported.
What types of complaints drive these decisions
The public decisions database suggests several common categories of complaints driving these ombudsman decisions: damp and mould (often referred to as Awaab's Law), repairs, complaint handling processes, anti-social behaviour, and tenancy issues. Issues related to damp and mould frequently lead to severe maladministration findings due to the health risks involved.
How the ombudsman process works for tenants
The ombudsman process begins when a tenant first makes a formal complaint to their landlord or housing provider. This initial step requires at least eight weeks for the landlord to address the issue before the tenant can refer it to the Housing Ombudsman Service. ombudsman-roundup-week-2026w19 is free of charge, and tenants can seek help regardless of whether their case falls under Awaab's Law or other tenancy issues.
What this means for landlords
For landlords, these findings highlight the importance of compliance with the Complaint Handling Code and prompt adherence to deadlines set by laws like Awaab's Law regarding damp and mould. Additionally, tenants increasingly turn to the Housing Ombudsman Service, indicating a need for improved complaint handling practices and better knowledge management within housing associations.
Where to get help
Tenants can seek assistance from several sources: the Housing Ombudsman Service (free at ombudsman.org.uk), Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk), Shelter (shelter.org.uk), or local council housing advice teams. These resources offer guidance and support for tenants facing issues with their landlords.
(Citations: Data sourced from the Housing Ombudsman Service, as of today's date.)