An investigation by The Daily Telegraph has revealed a significant discrepancy in how local councils are handling housing conditions within their own properties. Despite implementing strict regulations and licensing schemes targeting private landlords, many councils have been found to be failing to manage poor living conditions in their own social housing stock, leading to compensation payouts to tenants.

Key Findings:

• Councils paid out a total of £1.7 million in compensation to tenants in 2023, almost four times the amount they paid the previous year.
• A significant portion of this compensation was related to issues such as mould and damp, with these payouts tripling compared to the previous year.
• The council that paid the highest compensation was Lambeth, which disbursed £120,615 in compensation, followed closely by Hammersmith and Fulham.
• Other councils, such as Birmingham, faced similarly high costs, with Birmingham City Council paying out £79,170 for housing issues.

Selective Licensing vs. Social Housing Issues:

• Councils like Lambeth and Hammersmith and Fulham had selective licensing schemes in place, charging landlords fees of £923 and £597, respectively, while at the same time facing large compensation claims for poor conditions in their own social housing.

Commentary from Experts:

• Chris Norris, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), called for the same scrutiny of social housing that has been directed at the private rented sector, stating that mould and damp issues were just as prevalent in social housing.
• Richard Blakeway, from the Housing Ombudsman, pointed out that many tenants of social housing faced unacceptable delays and low compensation offers for issues like damp and mould, with some receiving as little as £150 for five years of unresolved problems.

This investigation highlights a growing concern that, while local councils impose strict regulations on private landlords to improve housing standards, they are not held to the same level of accountability when it comes to maintaining the quality of their own properties.