London council told to pay £18K over housing failings

Issues were left unfixed for years

A west London council has been ordered to pay more than £18,000 in compensation after failing to repair a number of "severe" issues with three of its homes.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council was accused of "significant, multiple and common failings" in a report by the Housing Ombudsman.

In one case a father and daughter were found to have had to live in a mouldy property for more than four years, while another house was left with an unfixed leak for five years.

The council apologised to residents and said it had carried out the necessary repairs.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council accepted the housing ombudsman's findings

A report by the housing ombudsmen identified seven cases of "severe maladministration" in three properties owned by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

In the first case, a father and daughter consistently saw water "pouring down their walls" any time it rained, and were left living in damp and mouldy conditions for more than four years.

The ombudsman said council workers had visited the property a number of times, but never fixed the issues and offered a "completely inadequate and disproportionate" £150 compensation to the tenant.

It ordered the council to pay £5,080 in compensation and the chief executive was forced to apologise in person to the family.

'Simply unacceptable'

In the second case, Hammersmith and Fulham Council was found to have failed to fix a leak in a property for more than five years.

It was also accused of not providing any support to the vulnerable resident who lived inside the house and ordered to pay £7,185.50 in compensation.

With the third property, a cancer patient was left with a broken toilet for two years, as well as damage left by contractors for seven months and intermittent hot water shortages for two-and-a-half years.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council was told to pay £5,950 to the tenant.

Water damage had destroyed walls, floors and personal belongings in one of the properties

Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway said: "The experiences of each resident engaging its landlord is shocking.

"This is simply unacceptable."

Hammersmith and Fulham Council said it fully accepted the ombudsman's decision and apologised "unreservedly".

It said attempts to repair the issues had been "adversely impacted" by the Covid pandemic and a contractor cutting ties, but the work had now been carried out.