A North London mother has revealed she was prescribed anti-depressants and her son developed respiratory problems after living for years in what she describes as a "damp, mouldy and rat-infested" rental property, with a watchdog finding Harrow Council took no action for twelve months.
A Catalogue of Disrepair and Distress
The woman, identified only as Miss X in an official report from the Housing Ombudsman, complained about severe disrepair and a rodent infestation in her housing association home, with issues dating back to around 2020. The family claimed they suffered significant stress and anxiety due to the "unsafe conditions and prolonged lack of action" from both their landlord and Harrow Council.
Miss X escalated the matter to the council in January 2024, reporting her landlord's persistent failure to resolve a litany of problems. These included a rat infestation, pervasive mould, persistent leaks, overflowing drains, and electrical shortages.
Council's Failure to Act
The subsequent Ombudsman investigation uncovered that after Miss X made her complaint, Harrow Council "did not contact the landlord, did not investigate, and did not progress matters". For an entire year, the case remained stagnant despite the severe health hazards.
Miss X stated that the council's inaction meant her family was forced to "endure the conditions longer." She had initially contacted the council hoping its environmental health team would use its powers to compel the landlord to act. The council logged the case and assigned it to a housing disrepair officer, but no meaningful progress was made.
By December 2024, with the issues still unresolved, Miss X made a formal complaint to the council. The council acknowledged this delay was unacceptable and apologised. Shockingly, after this complaint, the council informed Miss X that the rodent infestation "was not something it could investigate" and told her to take it up with her landlord directly.
Health Impact and Official Outcome
The Ombudsman's report highlighted that the council "did not appear to consider its available powers," such as conducting an inspection under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). During the ordeal, Miss X was placed in temporary accommodation at times, was prescribed anti-depressants due to the immense stress, and her son was diagnosed with eczema.
The Ombudsman concluded that the council's fault caused Miss X "distress, at the significant delays, lack of action and advice, and uncertainty about whether the situation could have been improved or resolved sooner." As a result, Harrow Council has agreed to pay Miss X £400 in compensation for the distress and uncertainty its delays caused. By the time the council's private sector housing team finally made contact, Miss X had already moved to new accommodation.
A spokesperson for Harrow Council said: "We accept the findings of the Ombudsman and have apologised to Miss X for the distress caused... We have since taken steps to remind staff of their powers to inspect rental properties in disrepair and that processes are followed robustly to avoid this happening again."
