South Harrow Tenants Report Window Repair Delays Amid Concerns Over Cold, Mould and Safety

Tenants in council-owned flats in South Harrow have reportedly raised concerns about delayed window replacement work, cold exposure, mould, and fears for children’s safety. 

Residents of flats on Stuart Avenue in South Harrow, have complained to their councillor after they received letters telling them that their faulty windows would not be replaced until 2035, a decade after repairs were approved.  

Roxbourne Councillor, Graham Henson, raised the issue at a Cabinet meeting in October 2025 after the issue was brought to him.  

Harrow Council disputed the claims, with Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Mina Parmar, insisting the works were planned for 2026 and that the 2035 figure was "factually incorrect" and that she was unaware of the letter but would look into it. 

Surveyors identified serious problems with the windows in Stuart Avenue more than 18 months ago, and they have since been condemned and are no longer being repaired, and tenants are still waiting. 

Cllr Henson told the meeting: "This is not just about windows. It's about dignity, safety, and the council's accountability to the people it serves." He also raised concerns about a 66% increase in housing repair complaints to Harrow Council in 2024/25, which he attributed to delays, poor communication and a lack of transparency. 

Why window disrepair is a serious housing issue 

When windows are damaged, poorly fitted, or condemned but not yet replaced, tenants are left dealing with draughts, heat loss, water ingress, rising energy bills and in some cases mould growth on walls and around frames. 

Where windows cannot close properly, allowing water into the home or posing safety risks, particularly for children in flats above ground level, the issue goes beyond routine repairs. Residents at Stuart Avenue reportedly raised all of these concerns, including the fear of children falling, and yet the works remain outstanding. 

For social housing tenants, window disrepair can form part of a wider housing disrepair claim where the landlord has been notified but has failed to act within a reasonable time. It can also be connected to other problems, including damp and mould, leaks and water ingress, and faulty heating. 

What are councils' responsibilities to their tenants? 

Councils are legally required to keep their properties safe, habitable and in a reasonable state of repair. That includes dealing with defective windows and doors, damp, mould, faulty heating, structural problems and other hazards that affect the condition or safety of a home. 

Tenants are responsible for reporting problems as soon as they become aware of them. Once a council has been told about an issue, it should inspect the property, identify the cause, carry out any necessary temporary safety measures, arrange permanent works and keep tenants updated throughout. Where surveyors have already identified and condemned windows as unsafe, leaving tenants uncertain about timescales for years is not an adequate response. 

Cllr Henson reiterated this at the October Cabinet meeting: "Promises were made. Funding was approved. Residents should not have to wait 10 years." 

What rights do social housing tenants have? 

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, councils have a legal obligation to keep their properties in a good state of repair. This covers broken or defective windows, damp and mould, leaks, faulty heating and any other problem that makes a home unsafe or unfit to live in. 

If repairs have been reported and the council has failed to act, tenants can make a formal complaint directly to their landlord. If that does not resolve matters, the next step is to escalate to the Housing Ombudsman or seek legal advice. Tenants should keep records throughout, including photographs, copies of correspondence, repair logs, energy bills if heat loss is a factor, and any medical information where health has been affected. 

The Housing Ombudsman and why it is not always enough 

The Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) is the independent body responsible for resolving disputes between social housing tenants and their landlords in England. It is free to use, and tenants can refer complaints to it once they have completed their landlord's own complaints process. 

The Ombudsman can investigate, make formal findings, and recommend repairs, apologies and compensation, but its powers have limits. It can recommend action, but it cannot force a landlord to take it. Cases can take months to work through, and even where serious failures are found, tenants can still find themselves waiting for works to actually happen. 

Legal action through a housing disrepair solicitor can lead to faster, enforceable outcomes and may be worth considering where repairs have been repeatedly delayed, the home is unsafe, health has been affected, or the Ombudsman route has not produced results. 

How Premier Legal Assist can help 

If you are a social housing tenant and your council has failed to deal with defective windows, damp and mould, leaks, or other reported repairs, you may be entitled to make a housing disrepair claim. 

Premier Legal Assist works with specialist no-win, no-fee housing disrepair solicitors who handle council cases regularly. They can help you understand your rights, gather evidence, push for the repairs you are owed and pursue compensation where appropriate. 

To find out if you are eligible, complete our short claim form or message us on WhatsApp and a member of our team will be in touch.