Following the consultation at the beginning of 2018, the responses have now been considered and, in response, the Communities Secretary has announced new plans for a housing complaints service relating to both homeowners and tenants. The proposals include:
- private landlords must become members of a redress scheme failing which they could be fined up to £5,000
- in relation to developers, the Government announced in October 2018 that it would be creating a New Homes Ombudsman. Developers will be required to belong to the new redress scheme by 2021 if they wish to participate in the Government’s Help to Buy Scheme; and
- in relation to social housing, the form of redress is currently considered.
Read the full version of the announcement:
James Brokenshire announces overhaul of broken housing complaints system
Further updates will be provided as soon as they are released.