UK Housing Ombudsman issues annual report Year 2002
Rafael writes that The Independent Housing Ombudsman Scheme (UK) has published its 2002 annual report. The report describes a period of continuing increase in the total volume of complaints (3640, 5.5% more than last year) and a marked rise in the number of cases which required a determination by the Ombudsman (16% more than last year).
Bad administration was found in two-thirds of all the complaints investigated. Failures by landlords to deal with repairs and with anti-social behaviour were the reasons for more than half of the complaints. It also reports many changes in the administration and operation of the Scheme. In particular it has recruited more staff and reformed casework management procedures.
The Ombudsman clarifies his vision of IHOS: “We give a service to providers of housing and their consumers in an appropriate and proportionate way. We are conciliators and problem-solvers, not hit-and-run regulators”. The report, in full or in summary, is available online from the Ombudsman’s website at www.ihos.org.uk, or contact Rafael Runco, Deputy Ombudsman, at rrunco@ihos.org.uk.”
