Data released by Labour-run Haringey Council has shown that just 18% of leaseholders are satisfied with the performance of the council’s housing services. Amongst the council’s own tenants, the figure is still an extremely low 45%, well below the lower quartile benchmark of 72.6%.
This unwelcome news for the council comes just days after Labour councillors refused to apologise for failures in housing standards, and rejected a scheme from Liberal Democrats which would have seen tenants and leaseholders receive financial compensation for late or shoddy repairs.
Other figures released show that only 37% of tenants and 9% of leaseholders believe that the council listens to their views and acts upon them, while 19% of tenants and 8% of leaseholders are satisfied with the council’s approach to complaint handling.
Cllr Dawn Barnes (LD-Fortis Green), Opposition Spokesperson for Housing, said:
“Given that our Labour-run council was recently reprimanded for neglecting to complete high risk fire safety checks; is currently under investigation for its failure to tackle damp and mould; and has shown utter contempt for tenants and leaseholders by refusing to apologise for its dreadful performance; these figures come as little surprise. Tenants and leaseholders cannot simply take their business elsewhere, and the Labour council needs to commit real resources to caring for its residents and fixing these numerous concerns around local people’s homes.”
Labour-run Haringey Council has been slammed by the UK’s housing watchdog (ombudsman) for a “culture of apathy and acceptance of poor practice” in its dealings with council tenants and leaseholders.