Support for Tenants
Awaab's Law applies · You may have a claim

Has Southern Housing ignored your repair complaint?

You're not the only one. If you reported a repair and Southern Housing ignored it, the law is on your side.

Southern Housing was formed by the 2022 merger of Southern Housing Group and Optivo, creating an association managing around 80,000 homes across London, the South East and South Coast. Like other recent mega-mergers, integration of complaints and repairs systems has produced an audit gap.

Formed Dec 2022 from Optivo + Southern merger. Operates London, SE, Midlands and Isle of Wight. C2 consumer grade. They manage 68,918 homes across England. When a landlord this size ignores you, the law is on your side, but only if you act. Under Awaab's Law and Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, you can claim compensation and force the repair.

If your tenancy was originally with Optivo, your case may still be on the legacy system. Always quote your current address rather than legacy housing officer names when escalating, and don't accept 'we're looking into it' as a substitute for action within statutory deadlines.

You are not the only Southern Housing tenant

68,918
homes they manage
Needs to improve
the government's rating for them (grade C2)
24
severe-failing findings (2024)

When a landlord this size ignores repair requests, the law is on your side, but only if you act. Under Awaab's Law (since October 2025) and Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, you can claim compensation AND force the repair.

Common Southern Housing issues we've seen

Don't let Southern Housing get away with it

Start your claim