Croydon Council compensation to tenants increases by TENFOLD say Lib Dems

The Housing Ombudsman, which oversees complaints by registered landlords, has released its latest annual report revealing that Croydon Council paid out over £18K to tenants in compensation during 2023/24 - more than TEN TIMES the amount from the previous year (2022/23).

Croydon also had a maladministration rate of 81%, compared to 67% for the previous year and, when measuring severe maladministration, the Council performed worse than other landlords of a similar size and type (12% rate compared to 8% and 9% respectively). 

In 2021, the Council hit the national headlines when it was revealed that tenants on the Regina Road estate were forced to live with mould and leaks for several years. An independent report highlighted the living conditions being endured by residents in the South Norwood flats, with poor management and staffing issues at the Council putting the health of people in the Regina Road block at risk.

This led to the creation of a Housing Improvement Board, and meets every other month to provide evidenced, fair and honest feedback to the council’s cabinet on a quarterly basis, examining how the council is delivering its programme of housing improvement works to meet targets set by the independent report.

Commenting, Cllr Claire Bonham (Liberal Democrat, Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood) said:

“There are clear signs that Croydon Council is still failing tenants and there is room for much improvement. I know from my own casework locally that tenants still struggle to get timely and consistent responses from the Council and that getting repairs done is a struggle. In one case recently an urgent enquiry that I raised via the Member's Enquiry system went 'missing' and was only dealt with when I escalated the issue. 

"Cases being referred to the ombudsman and requiring compensation should be a rare occurrence, if at all, and the Tory Mayor should apologise to tenants for this poorly performing service.