Greenwich council repairs not done? Help for tenants.
Free, no-obligation advice. If Greenwich has ignored your damp, mould, leaks or broken heating, we take it up with them for you.
Greenwich Council manages around 21,000 homes across the borough, including significant developments around Woolwich, Charlton and Eltham. Major HAs in the borough include L&Q and Peabody.
The Housing Ombudsman named Greenwich Council in its 2024-25 review for upholding tenants' complaints of maladministration over repairs and conditions. Source: Housing Ombudsman. See all 2024-25 records.
Greenwich's riverside estates have a documented damp profile due to historic ground conditions. If your home is within 500m of the Thames and you have persistent damp, ask the council whether they have ground-condition reports for your block, those are typically discoverable in a disrepair claim.
You may have a claim if:
- You rent from a council, housing association or private landlord, are a leaseholder, or live in temporary accommodation
- You reported the problem to your landlord
- It still hasn't been fixed
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Landlords in Greenwich
How to complain to Greenwich Council about housing
Every English council has a published complaints procedure for housing matters under the statutory Complaint Handling Code. The standard route is:
- Stage 1, formal complaint to the council's housing complaints team. Most councils target 10 working days for a response.
- Stage 2, senior review if dissatisfied. Target 20 working days.
- Escalate to the Housing Ombudsman, the free service that reviews social-housing complaints, if Greenwich Council still does not put it right after stage 2, or 8 weeks pass with no proper response.
- Make a claim with us if the problem is disrepair such as damp, mould, a leak or broken heating and it is still not fixed. You may have a claim, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
To find Greenwich Council's housing complaints email and online form, search "Greenwich Council housing complaints policy" on their official website. They're legally required to publish it.
Sample complaint email to Greenwich Council
Subject: Formal complaint: disrepair at [your address], Greenwich Dear Greenwich Council, I am writing to formally complain about disrepair at my council home at [your address]. The issue: [describe damp / mould / leak / broken heating / other, be specific about rooms, when it started, and any health impacts]. I reported this on [date] via [phone / email / portal / in person]. The reference number is [reference if any]. To date, no proper repair has been completed. LEGAL POSITION: Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, you have a statutory duty as my landlord to keep the structure and installations of my home in repair. Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, my home must be fit for human habitation. Under Awaab's Law (Section 10A LTA 1985, in force 27 October 2025), as a social landlord you must, for an emergency hazard, investigate and make safe within 24 hours; for a significant hazard, investigate within 10 working days, complete the relevant safety work within 5 working days of finishing that investigation, and send a written summary of findings within 3 working days of the investigation. This letter constitutes formal notice. Please acknowledge within 5 working days and issue a stage-1 response within 10 working days, as required by your published complaints policy and the statutory Complaint Handling Code. If you fail to respond or to act within these timeframes, I reserve all my rights including escalation to the Housing Ombudsman and a legal claim for compensation. Yours faithfully, [Your name] [Your address] [Your phone] [Your email]
Don't want to write it yourself? Free letter builder generates a personalised PDF in 60 seconds.
Common questions, Greenwich
How long does my landlord have to fix repairs in Greenwich?
Under Awaab's Law (Section 10A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, in force from 27 October 2025), your landlord in Greenwich, whether the council or a housing association, must investigate and make safe an emergency hazard within 24 hours. For a significant hazard such as serious damp or mould, they must investigate within 10 working days, complete the safety work within 5 working days of finishing that investigation, and send you a written summary within 3 working days (which runs at the same time as the 5-day repair window).
How do I report damp and mould in Greenwich?
Report it to your landlord in writing if you can, by email or their online portal, or by phone with a reference number, and keep a copy. Describe the damp or mould, when it started, and any effect on your health. The Awaab's Law deadlines only start once you have reported the hazard. If your landlord does not act within those deadlines, you may have a claim, speak to us.
Can I claim compensation for disrepair in Greenwich?
Yes. If you reported a hazard and your Greenwich landlord ignored it past the Awaab's Law deadlines, you may be able to claim compensation. How much depends on how long it went on, how serious it was, and any effect on your health, so we cannot promise a figure. On no win, no fee terms you pay nothing up front, and the solicitor's fee only comes out of your compensation if you win, never out of your own pocket.
Who do I complain to about housing in Greenwich?
Start with a formal stage 1 complaint to your landlord, then a stage 2 escalation if you are not satisfied. If it is still unresolved, or 8 weeks have passed, you may have a claim, speak to us.
What are my rights if I have no heating or hot water in Greenwich?
No heating or hot water is usually an emergency, especially in winter or if someone in the home is very young, elderly, or unwell. Your landlord in Greenwich, whether the council or a housing association, must make an emergency hazard safe within 24 hours under Awaab's Law. If they leave you without heating or hot water, you may be able to claim compensation for it.
What can I do if my repairs are not being done in Greenwich?
If the council or your housing association is not fixing repairs after you reported them, put your complaint in writing and keep a copy. If they miss the Awaab's Law deadlines or keep ignoring you, you may have a disrepair claim, which does not affect your rent or your tenancy. Speak to us.
Related
By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.