Lib Dems slam Labour after Southwark is fined for yet more maladministration by housing ombudsman

This comes just two months after Southwark council was ordered to pay £10,000 for two other cases of maladministration.

In a press release published today, the housing ombudsman revealed it had made two findings of “severe maladministration” from Southwark council.

In case A, Southwark failed to provide a written summary of major works charges to a leaseholder for 3 years, despite their own policy being to supply them within 6 months, and was ordered to pay £900 compensation.

Last year, the Southwark Lib Dems revealed that Southwark had been consistently overcharging leaseholders for major works, and was taking an average of 3 and a half years to provide the relevant documentation.

In case B, the council refused a mutual exchange request from a council tenant after accusing the tenant of “vandilising his own kitchen” despite the kitchen cupboards being removed by council contractors’ and not replaced during repair works. Southwark was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.

Southwark’s failings in both cases were described by the housing ombudsman as “life impacting” for those involved.

The Southwark Lib Dems have called on Southwark Labour to get a grip on their failing housing service, and ensure the council properly fulfils its responsibility as a social landlord.

Commenting, Lib Dem group leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said:

“It is appalling that the housing ombudsman has had to step in yet again on behalf of council tenants in Southwark. Labour’s record as a landlord in this borough is simply not good enough. Both these cases show Labour’s inability to crack down on the complacency and disorganisation that is letting down council tenants far too often.

Labour say we need a ‘zero tolerance approach’ to ‘rogue landlords’ and we couldn’t agree more. That’s why the residents of Southwark need to vote Lib Dem at the next election and get rid of their shoddy Labour landlord.”