The Housing Ombudsman is a free, independent service that investigates complaints made by tenants against social housing landlords, including Tower Hamlets Council.
If you've reported repair issues to the Council and followed their complaints process but still haven't had a satisfactory resolution, you can escalate the matter to the Housing Ombudsman. They will assess whether the Council has acted fairly, reasonably, and in line with their legal responsibilities.
The Ombudsman can recommend that the Council carry out repairs, pay compensation, or apologise. However, their decisions are not legally binding, and they cannot enforce repairs in the same way a court can. In many cases, tenants find that going through the Ombudsman takes time and doesn't always lead to meaningful action.
At Premier Legal Assist, we help tenants take legal action through no-win, no-fee solicitors, which can often result in faster repairs and legally enforceable compensation. While the Housing Ombudsman is a helpful option for some, legal proceedings can be more effective when facing serious or prolonged disrepair.