Housing: Key resources for constituency casework in England

A significant proportion of the enquiries Members receive from constituents concern housing issues. Many are straightforward and can be answered using readily available information on the internet or in standard publications. This note provides a guide to relevant sources.

Local housing authorities and housing associations have internal complaints procedures. Details can be found on landlords’ websites. As a rule, these procedures should be exhausted before a complaint is taken to the Housing Ombudsman or the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The latter deals with complaints about homelessness, housing allocations, Housing Benefit and home improvement services.

The forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill will include provisions to establish a new ombudsman service for the private rented sector to ensure all tenants have access to a redress service.

The Library’s constituency casework pages on How to complain about rented housing (England) and How can homeowners in England resolve housing complaints provide further information.

Where a complaint does not resolve a problem, the constituent may need professional legal advice and assistance. The Advicenow website has information on seeking legal aid and assistance. There is also a Library briefing on Legal help: where to go and how to pay.