London has the highest number of social landlords who have been named and shamed for making tenants live in mouldy and unsafe homes, it was revealed on Wednesday.
Twenty out the 33 associations and councils that Housing Secretary Michael Gove wrote to condemning them for mishandling complaints about conditions last year were in the capital.
Residents across 11 boroughs were paid more than £200,000 in compensation following special Ombudsman reports into the state of their homes.
Newham council was rebuked for failing to deal with a tenant’s severe damp issue for over three years.
Lambeth council refused to repair a leaking roof for six years, while Barking and Dagenham council was condemned for leaving a family of six living in unpleasant mouldy conditions for over two years with “unacceptable delays” to repairs.
Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing was warned about ignoring concerns from a disabled resident about safety issues, including the disrepair of a communal fire alarm unit.
A coroner found the two-year-old died of a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould at his Rochdale home in 2020.
As part of the reforms, Mr Gove vowed to name and shame landlords and councils that fail to meet proper living standards in their properties.
Councils have argued that severe central government funding cuts under the Conservatives and spiralling housing costs have stretched budgets and led to a shortage of decent properties.
Umbrella group London Councils, which represents 32 boroughs, said local authorities are facing a shortfall of at least £500million in 2024/25– with "worrying consequences for local services across the capital".
Mr Gove said: “For far too long too many social landlords have failed to support vulnerable residents across London.
“Our landmark Social Housing Regulation Act is laying the groundwork to introduce life changing reforms – setting strict timeframes to fix hazards through Awaab’s Law, strengthening powers to issue unlimited fines, and providing stronger tenant rights to hold failing social landlords to account.
“Those who seriously neglect their responsibilities will face the consequences and landlords must now step up to provide the safe, warm and decent homes that people deserve.”
