A council has been forced to pay out £18,000 for failing to repair vulnerable residents' flats, including a dad and his young daughter who had to live with water pouring down their walls, which caused a build-up of damp and mould for four years.
The water wrecked internal plastering as well as the family’s belongings, a report by the Housing Ombudsman found. Housing officers visited the property multiple times to take photos and treat the problem but failed to fix it.
The ombudsmen report also noted there were long periods of time when the resident was forced to chase for updates and then had a number of their concerns ignored. They added the London council’s handling of the complaint was delayed and its offer of £150 in compensation was “completely inadequate and disproportionate”.
