‘A national disgrace’: Thousands of complaints about damp and mould in England social housing

The Housing Ombudsman received 5,838 complaints about leaks, damp and mould in the three years to March 2022, figures show

Thousands of complaints about leaks, damp and mould have been made about social housing across England in the past three years, new figures reveal (Andrew Paterson/Alamy/PA)

Thousands of complaints about leaks, damp and mould have been made about social housing across England in the past three years, new figures reveal.

The health impacts of poor-quality social housing have been in the spotlight after a coroner ruled two year-old Awaab Ishak died following prolonged exposure to mould in his flat, which was maintained by a housing association in Rochdale.

The Housing Ombudsman investigates complaints made about social housing providers, such as housing associations, local authorities and housing co-operatives.