Other complaint routes and alternatives

Routes other than a CMC claim: the Housing Ombudsman, the small claims court, Section 82, the First-tier Tribunal, environmental health, rent offsets.

Guides in this topic

45 plain-English guides. 3 to 5 minute reads, no jargon, free to use.

• Ombudsman, solicitor, or a claim: which is right for you?Housing Ombudsman vs a no win, no fee claim with Support for Tenants. Which gets repairs done faster, which pays more, and why most tenants are better off making a claim.3 min read→
• What is an EPA Section 82 claim? (the fast route for bad conditions)Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 lets you take your landlord to the Magistrates Court when your home is a health risk, such as damp, mould, pests, or no heating. Here is how it works in plain English.2 min read→
• Section 82 EPA: a step-by-step guide for tenantsSection 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 lets you take your landlord to the magistrates' court. It applies where the landlord has let your home4 min read→
• The council's environmental health team said they can't help: what now?You reported your housing conditions to the council's environmental health team. Maybe they came out, looked, and found no hazard. Or called the damp a3 min read→
• Damp and disrepair compensation in the small claims court, the DIY routeIf you do not want to use a solicitor, you can bring a small disrepair claim yourself in the small claims court. Here is what it involves.4 min read→
• Withholding rent vs offsetting against repairs, what is the difference?Withholding rent and offsetting rent against repairs are two different things. One is risky, the other can be lawful. Here is how each works.4 min read→
• How to complain to the Housing Ombudsman, step by stepThe Housing Ombudsman investigates complaints against social landlords. It is free, no lawyers needed, and the steps are simple. Here is how.4 min read→
• What if your landlord is not Housing Ombudsman registered?Most social landlords are registered with the Housing Ombudsman. If yours is not, here are the other routes you can use.3 min read→
• The Private Rented Sector Ombudsman: what it means for private tenantsThe Renters' Rights Act 2025 set up a new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman for England. Every private landlord must join it. This is a big change for private3 min read→
• The 8-week wait for the landlord's final response, what to do during itBefore the Housing Ombudsman can investigate, the landlord usually has 8 weeks to respond. Here is what to do during that wait.3 min read→
• Stage 1 vs Stage 2 complaint: what is the difference and what happens next?Complain formally to a housing association or council and the terms "Stage 1" and "Stage 2" will come up. Knowing what they mean, and your options at each3 min read→
• Prohibition order: what happens to your tenancy?A prohibition order means the council has declared your home unsafe. Here is what it means for your tenancy, your rent, and your right to stay.3 min read→
• The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman: when to use them for housing complaintsMost housing complaints about repairs or the way your home is run go to the Housing Ombudsman. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) is a4 min read→
• What does "maladministration" mean at the Housing Ombudsman: and what can it order?Maybe you are thinking about complaining to the Housing Ombudsman. Maybe the Ombudsman is already looking at your case. Either way, you will see the word4 min read→
• The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) explainedThe First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) is a special court. It sorts out rows between landlords and tenants. It also covers leaseholders and freeholders,3 min read→
• Regulator of Social Housing: can tenants complain?The Regulator of Social Housing, the RSH, oversees social housing providers in England. That means councils and housing associations. Its name comes up3 min read→
• Litigation friend: claiming for someone who lacks capacitySometimes a person cannot run a legal case on their own. It may be a family member or a loved one. They may lack the mental capacity to do it. To bring a3 min read→
• The Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code: what it means for tenantsThe Housing Ombudsman's Complaint Handling Code sets the minimum standards social landlords must follow on complaints. Councils and housing associations both3 min read→
• How to apply for a rent repayment order: step by stepA rent repayment order, an RRO, is a legal order from the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). It makes a landlord pay back up to 12 months of rent where3 min read→
• Trading Standards and rogue landlords: when to report and what happensTrading Standards is a local council service. It makes sure people follow consumer law, product safety rules, and trading law. In housing, Trading Standards3 min read→
• Housing court duty scheme: what it is and how to use itA possession hearing coming up, with no solicitor? The housing court duty scheme gives free advice, and can speak for you in court on the day. Here is how it3 min read→
• Housing Ombudsman or court claim: which is right for you?Sometimes your landlord will not fix a problem in your home. You have already complained to them, but it has not worked. Now you have two main choices: the4 min read→
• Housing Ombudsman: how long it takes and what to do while you waitHow long does the Housing Ombudsman take? It is one of the questions tenants ask most. The honest answer: it varies, and it often takes longer than people3 min read→
• Your landlord has offered compensation: should you accept it?You may have complained about disrepair, or sent a letter before action. Your landlord might then offer you money to settle the matter. Before you say yes,3 min read→
• Designated Person: what it is and how it helps you access the Housing OmbudsmanAre you a social housing tenant who wants to complain to the Housing Ombudsman? You used to have to go through a "Designated Person" first. That meant an MP,3 min read→
• Housing Ombudsman: what compensation can you get?When the Housing Ombudsman upholds a complaint, it can tell your landlord to pay you compensation. Below, we explain what the Ombudsman awards. We show how3 min read→
• Housing Ombudsman severe maladministration findings: what they meanThe Housing Ombudsman can find severe maladministration against a social landlord. It is the most serious finding it makes. It says more than "handled2 min read→
• Judicial review of housing decisions: a guide for tenantsJudicial review is a legal process where a court checks whether a public body made a decision lawfully. Tenants can use it against council, housing3 min read→
• Complaining to your MP about housing disrepairWriting to your Member of Parliament (MP) is a fair step to take. Use it when you cannot get your landlord to do repairs and other routes have not worked. An2 min read→
• How to complain about a letting agentA letting agent works for the landlord. They look after the property and the tenancy. You have the right to complain if the agent has handled your tenancy3 min read→
• Exceptional Case Funding: legal aid for housing casesLegal aid for civil cases in England was cut hard by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, LASPO. Mainstream civil legal aid leaves3 min read→
• Complaining about a letting agent: the redress scheme routeEvery letting agent in England must, by law, belong to a government-approved redress scheme. If your agent handled your tenancy badly, including sitting on3 min read→
• Environmental health visit: what to expectHas your home got serious disrepair that your landlord has not fixed? You can ask your local council's environmental health team to come and look. Below, we3 min read→
• Making a complaint about your council landlord: how the process worksRenting from a council with a problem in your home? Disrepair, poor service, or a tenancy row: you hold the right to a formal complaint. Here is how the3 min read→
• First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber): what it is and when tenants can use itThe First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) is an independent judicial body hearing residential property rows in England. For tenants, it can challenge2 min read→
• Free housing legal advice in England: where to get itHousing law is tangled. The wrong advice at the wrong moment, or none at all, costs dearly. The good news: several places give tenants in England free legal2 min read→
• HHSRS Category 1 hazard: what it means and what happens nextIf the council inspects your home and finds serious problems, it may call them "Category 1 hazards" under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System3 min read→
• Housing improvement notice: what it means for tenantsWhen the council's environmental health team inspects your home and finds serious hazards, it can serve a formal notice making your landlord act. Its main2 min read→
• Tenancy deposit adjudication: how it worksYour landlord might try to take money from your deposit when your tenancy ends. If you do not agree, you can ask the deposit protection scheme to step in.3 min read→
• How to complain to a housing association: step by stepHousing associations manage millions of rented homes in England. You have the right to complain if something is wrong. This could be repairs not done,3 min read→
• Data subject access request: what information can you get from your landlord?A data subject access request (DSAR or SAR) is a legal right. It lets you ask for a copy of the personal information an organisation holds about you. If you3 min read→
• Second-hand smoke in a rented property: your rightsCigarette smoke drifting in from a neighbour, through walls, ceilings, floors or shared vents, can harm health and cause real distress. Here are your rights,2 min read→
• Legal Ombudsman: complaining about a housing solicitorDid a solicitor handle your housing case badly? The Legal Ombudsman may be your route. It is a free, independent service. It deals with complaints about2 min read→
• Mediation for housing disputes: how it works and when to use itMediation settles a dispute without court. In housing, it can sometimes help landlord and tenant agree on repairs, money owed, or other rows. Here is how it2 min read→
• Environmental health complaint about disrepair: how it worksYour local council has an environmental health team. They can inspect your home. If they find a serious danger, they can order your landlord by law to fix3 min read→