RSH provider code 22UJ · Local authority | Local authority
What you need to know about Harlow District Council
Harlow District Council is a local authority that provides housing services in England. The council's RSH provider code is 22UJ, and it operates across multiple regions within the country. As a local authority, Harlow District Council is responsible for managing a range of public services including social housing.
How Harlow District Council is regulated
Harlow District Council is regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing under the framework established by the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Complaints against the council can be escalated to the independent Housing Ombudsman Service if they're not resolved through the landlord's internal process. The Consumer Standards, introduced in April 2024, aim to ensure that landlords meet minimum service standards for their tenants.
What the Housing Ombudsman record shows
The figures published by the Housing Ombudsman show that there have been 54 decisions involving Harlow District Council. Among these decisions, 10 (or 19%) have resulted in findings of severe maladministration. Severe maladministration is the regulator's most serious determination and is reserved for significant or persistent failings by landlords.
What this means for Harlow District Council tenants
Tenants facing issues with their housing should consider starting their complaint process by contacting Harlow District Council directly in writing. If the issue remains unresolved after 8 weeks, they may escalate it to the Housing Ombudsman Service. Since October 2025, Awaab's Law obligates landlords to address damp and mould issues promptly. Tenants may also be entitled to improvements under the Decent Homes Standard, which requires properties to meet certain quality criteria.
How to escalate a complaint about Harlow District Council
To escalate a complaint about Harlow District Council, tenants should follow these steps:
- Complain in Writing: Start by sending a written complaint to Harlow District Council detailing your issue.
- Request Final Response: If the matter isn't resolved after 8 weeks or if you receive a final response from the council that doesn't resolve the problem, you may escalate it further.
- Housing Ombudsman Service: Submit your case to the Housing Ombudsman after exhausting the landlord's internal process. Harlow District Council is free and doesn't require legal representation. For additional support, tenants can contact Citizens Advice or Shelter.
Where to read more
For more information on Harlow District Council's regulation and tenant rights:
- Housing Ombudsman
- Regulator of Social Housing
- The Tenants Voice category pages on disrepair and complaints
- Housing Act 2004
- Housing and Regeneration Act 2008
Housing Ombudsman activity
The Housing Ombudsman has published 54 decisions involving Harlow District Council. Each decision is the regulator's formal determination of a tenant complaint that Harlow District Council could not resolve through its own internal complaints process.
Of those decisions, 10 contain findings of severe maladministration - the regulator's most serious determination, reserved for cases where the landlord's failures were significant or persistent. The Housing Ombudsman publishes severe maladministration orders publicly on its website.
Source: Housing Ombudsman Service. Counts are aggregated from the Ombudsman's public decisions database, last refreshed nightly.
Make a complaint about Harlow District Council
If you have raised a complaint with Harlow District Council and are unhappy with the outcome, the Housing Ombudsman handles complaints about all registered providers of social housing in England.