THE government came under pressure to let tenants withhold rent over disrepair today, after complaints from social housing residents jumped by over 40 per cent.

A report by the Housing Ombudsman revealed it had to intervene 26,901 times between April 2024 and March 2025 in disputes about landlords’ failings.

Property condition was the most common complaint category, with complaints about repairs soaring by 43 per cent.

Over 40 per cent of the £5.4 million compensation ordered was for failures in handling leaks, damp and mould. 

London Renters Union spokesperson Jae Vail said: “It’s outrageous that so many social tenants are trapped in dangerous conditions, their pleas going ignored for years, while being forced to pay above-inflation rent increases. 

“We need a major investment from the government to fix up, retrofit, and expand our stock of public housing in this country. 

“We also need a legal right to withhold rent in cases of serious disrepair to put power directly back in the hands of tenants.”

Kate Alexander from tenants’ union Acorn said: “We are coming across issues such as serious disrepair and unsafe social housing right across the country, and complaints to councils and housing associations that are too often ignored or get a very slow response.”

“In our experience, it’s usually only by tenants getting together, unionising and taking action that a positive outcome is achieved or issues get sorted.” 

From October, Awaab’s Law, named after a two-year-old who died from mould in a social housing flat, will require social landlords to address emergency hazards, including damp and mould.

A government spokesperson said: “Our new laws will force them (landlords) to fix problems quickly, so that people are safe in their homes and can be proud to live in social housing.”