Lambeth Council Housing Failures Slammed by Ombudsman 2026

Key Points

• Lambeth Council, under Labour leadership, has been repeatedly criticised for poor housing services, including high complaint volumes and failures identified by the Housing Ombudsman.
• The Housing Ombudsman urged Lambeth to address root causes of complaints, noting improvements are not “seen and felt by residents,” with Richard Blakeway stating there are “still too many residents receiving an unacceptable service.”​
• Lambeth recorded 316 complaints in one year, the fourth highest in England, with 142 housing complaints (second highest), rising 22% year-on-year, and 92% upheld by the ombudsman.​
• For four consecutive years, Lambeth has faced ombudsman concerns over delays, poor communication, and housing failures, described as “disappointing” in a letter to the Chief Executive on 9 July 2025.​
• Cllr Donna Harris, Leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrats, called the record a “national embarrassment,” accusing Labour of “contempt” and failure to act despite warnings.
• Tenants face eviction threats over unpaid heating bills of £60-70 weekly, included in rent as service charges by the council, following 350% hikes since April 2023; the Lambeth Tenants Heat Campaign argues this misclassifies energy debt.
• Housing Ombudsman reports highlight “severe maladministration” on damp and mould, described as “persistent and systemic,” alongside neglect in repairs and complaint handling.
• Lambeth claims investments of “hundreds of millions” in housing stock and “significant transformation” in complaints handling, with Cllr Maria Kay apologising for failings and noting progress recognised by the ombudsman.
• Campaigners demand transparency, compensation for outages, repairs, and external oversight of heat charges, highlighting failing systems leaving residents cold despite high costs.​
• Additional issues include temporary accommodation problems, unannounced “intimidating” visits, private sector discharge policies, and legal challenges over short-life tenancies via Homes for Lambeth (HfL).

Lambeth (South London News) March 9, 2026 – Lambeth Council is under fire for its handling of council housing, with residents and watchdogs highlighting persistent failures despite claimed improvements, amid soaring complaints and threats of eviction over heating bills.

What Has the Housing Ombudsman Said About Lambeth Council?

The Housing Ombudsman has conducted multiple inspections of Lambeth Council, identifying ongoing issues in complaint handling and service delivery. In a recent report, Richard Blakeway from the ombudsman warned that while some progress has been made, it is not “seen and felt by residents,” with “too many residents receiving an unacceptable service.” The inspection followed cases where two residents required repeated intervention after previous upheld complaints, revealing a “lack of consistency” in processes.​

As reported in coverage by Inside Croydon, the ombudsman named Lambeth among the worst offenders for failures over years, including “severe maladministration” first flagged in 2023. Cllr Donna Harris of the Liberal Democrats described the findings as showing a “pattern of neglect, incompetence and a complete disregard for the wellbeing of residents.” Lambeth Council stated it accepted the report’s findings and has invested hundreds of millions in housing stock.

Why Are Tenant Complaints So High in Lambeth?

Lambeth recorded the second-highest number of housing complaints in England, with 142 out of 316 total complaints in one year, behind only Birmingham despite Lambeth having far fewer council homes. Complaints rose by 22% compared to the prior year, with nearly 1 in 25 national housing complaints concerning Lambeth, and the ombudsman upholding 92%—above London’s 84% average.​

The Local Government Ombudsman noted repeated delays in responses, even for basic documents, poor communication, and bad signposting, particularly in housing. In a letter to Lambeth’s Chief Executive on 9 July 2025, the ombudsman expressed disappointment at the same concerns raised for four years running. Lambeth Lib Dems highlighted this as the fourth year of failure to improve.​

Who Is Criticising Lambeth Council’s Housing Record?

Opposition politicians have been vocal. Cllr Donna Harris, Leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrats, stated:

“This report is a national embarrassment. While Labour Councillors pat themselves on the back and ignore residents, people are being let down time and time again — especially on housing. They’ve had four years of warnings and still failed to act. That’s not incompetence — it’s contempt.”

She further noted on damp and mould: “Lambeth Labour cannot hide from this – they have presided over years of housing mismanagement, leaving some of our most vulnerable residents in dangerous and degrading conditions.”

The Lambeth Tenants Heat Campaign has protested excessive 350% service charge increases for heating since April 2023, arguing tenants cannot switch providers or improve efficiency. They claim notices of seeking possession treat heating debt as rent arrears, which is improper for energy bills. One HfL tenant remarked:

“None of us were told we were renting from the council, or that Lambeth saw it as a short-term solution. On the contrary, we asked and were assured we’d be able to stay here long-term.”

What Is the Controversy Over Heating Bills and Evictions?

Lambeth Council includes heating and hot water as service charges in weekly rent, demanding payment per tenancy agreements. Campaigners allege eviction threats for unpaid £60-70 weekly bills post-hikes, with systems often failing, leaving homes cold. The Lambeth Tenants Heat Campaign demands breakdowns of costs, automatic compensation for outages, repairs, insulation upgrades, and renewables.

As per LTHC updates, the campaign, founded in 2023 and supported by Fuel Poverty Action and London Tenants Federation, has held demonstrations and prevented evictions, like on April 7th 2025 with Acorn. Lib Dems called for emergency funding to protect vulnerable families from hiked charges.

How Has Lambeth Council Responded to the Criticisms?

Lambeth Council maintains it has apologised for failings, fixed issues, and paid compensation. Cllr Maria Kay, Cabinet Member for Better Homes and Reducing Homelessness, said:

“We have apologised for the failings identified in the complaints that led to this inspection and have fixed the issues that impacted residents as well as paying compensation to them. In the last year, the council has worked intensively with the Housing Ombudsman and with residents to improve the way we respond to complaints and tackle any issues raised, to ensure we provide the best possible service to all tenants and leaseholders.”​

The council’s site highlights ombudsman recognition of “significant transformation” in complaints handling. On heat networks, they assert charges are part of rent and must be paid. Despite a waiting list over 35,000 and past Homes for Lambeth failures, they report ongoing investments.

What Other Housing Issues Are Affecting Lambeth Tenants?

Recent BBC reporting details accusations of “intimidating” unannounced visits to homeless families in temporary accommodation. Critics oppose “private sector discharge,” forcing acceptance of private rentals, said to perpetuate homelessness. PILC’s legal challenge claims breaches of the Localism Act 2011 via HfL’s private rentals, contradicting Labour’s no-fault eviction ban promises.

Historical short-life properties, bought in 1970s for regeneration but repurposed, continue problematic, with Labour Cllr Helen O’Malley once calling for fairness and compassion. Over 9,000 complaints in six months were noted by Brixton Buzz, alongside central government shaming on disrepair.

Is There Any Improvement in Lambeth’s Housing Services?

While criticisms persist, the ombudsman noted progress in complaint processes post-2023 scrutiny, the first for a council. Lambeth claims hundreds of millions invested, with issues fixed in specific cases. However, opposition and campaigners argue systemic problems remain, with upheld complaints high and services not resident-felt.