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.
Read · 3 min
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.
Read · 2 min
Section 82 EPA: a step-by-step guide for tenants
Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows a tenant to take their landlord directly to the magistrates' court when the landlord has allowed
Read · 4 min
The council's environmental health team said they can't help: what now?
You reported your housing conditions to your council's environmental health team. Maybe they came out, looked at the property, and said there was no hazard.
Read · 3 min
Damp and disrepair compensation in the small claims court, the DIY route
If 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.
Read · 4 min
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.
Read · 4 min
How to complain to the Housing Ombudsman, step by step
The Housing Ombudsman investigates complaints against social landlords. It is free, no lawyers needed, and the steps are simple. Here is how.
Read · 4 min
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.
Read · 3 min
The Private Rented Sector Ombudsman: what it means for private tenants
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 created a new mandatory Private Rented Sector Ombudsman for England. This is a significant change for private tenants, until
Read · 3 min
The 8-week wait for the landlord's final response, what to do during it
Before the Housing Ombudsman can investigate, the landlord usually has 8 weeks to respond. Here is what to do during that wait.
Read · 3 min
Stage 1 vs Stage 2 complaint: what is the difference and what happens next?
When you make a formal complaint to a housing association or council, you will hear the terms "Stage 1" and "Stage 2." Understanding what these mean, and
Read · 4 min
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.
Read · 3 min
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman: when to use them for housing complaints
Most housing complaints about repairs or housing management go to the Housing Ombudsman. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) is a separate
Read · 4 min
What does "maladministration" mean at the Housing Ombudsman: and what can it order?
If you are thinking about complaining to the Housing Ombudsman, or if the Ombudsman is already investigating your case, you will come across the term
Read · 4 min
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) explained
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) is a specialist court that handles disputes between landlords and tenants, leaseholders and freeholders, and
Read · 3 min
Regulator of Social Housing: can tenants complain?
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) is the body that regulates social housing providers in England, councils and housing associations. You may have seen
Read · 3 min
Litigation friend: bringing a housing disrepair claim on behalf of someone who lacks capacity
If you want to bring a housing disrepair claim on behalf of a family member or loved one who does not have the mental capacity to conduct legal proceedings
Read · 3 min
The Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code: what it means for tenants
The Housing Ombudsman's Complaint Handling Code sets out the minimum standards that social landlords, councils and housing associations, must follow when
Read · 4 min
How to apply for a rent repayment order: step by step
A rent repayment order (RRO) is a legal order from the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) that requires a landlord to repay up to 12 months of rent if
Read · 3 min
Trading Standards and rogue landlords: when to report and what happens
Trading Standards is a local authority service that enforces consumer protection, product safety, and trading law. In housing, Trading Standards teams can
Read · 3 min
Housing court duty scheme: what it is and how to use it
If you have a possession hearing coming up and you do not have a solicitor, the housing court duty scheme can provide you with free advice and representation
Read · 3 min
Housing Ombudsman or court claim: which is right for you?
When your landlord has failed to fix a problem in your home and internal complaints have not worked, you have two main options: the Housing Ombudsman or a
Read · 4 min
Housing Ombudsman: how long it takes and what to do while you wait
One of the most common questions tenants ask about the Housing Ombudsman is how long the process takes. The honest answer is: it varies, and for many cases
Read · 3 min
Your landlord has offered compensation: should you accept it?
If you have complained about disrepair or received a letter before action, your landlord may offer you a sum of money to settle the matter. Before you
Read · 3 min
Designated Person: what it is and how it helps you access the Housing Ombudsman
If you are a social housing tenant and want to complain to the Housing Ombudsman, you used to need to go through a "Designated Person" first, an MP, local
Read · 3 min
Housing Ombudsman: what compensation can you get?
When the Housing Ombudsman upholds a complaint, it can order your landlord to pay you compensation. Below, we cover what the Ombudsman awards, how the
Read · 3 min
Housing Ombudsman severe maladministration findings: what they mean
The Housing Ombudsman can make a finding of severe maladministration against a social landlord. This is the most serious finding the Ombudsman can make. It
Read · 3 min
Judicial review of housing decisions: a guide for tenants
Judicial review is a legal process that allows a court to examine whether a public body made a decision lawfully. For tenants, it can be used to challenge
Read · 3 min
Complaining to your MP about housing disrepair
Writing to your Member of Parliament (MP) is a legitimate step when you are struggling to get your landlord to carry out repairs and other routes have not
Read · 3 min
How to complain about a letting agent
Letting agents act on behalf of landlords to manage properties and tenancies. If a letting agent has mishandled your tenancy, failed to pass on your
Read · 3 min
Exceptional Case Funding: legal aid for housing cases
Legal aid for civil cases in England was significantly cut by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). Housing disrepair
Read · 4 min
Complaining about a letting agent: the redress scheme route
Every letting agent in England is legally required to belong to a government-approved redress scheme. If your letting agent has handled your tenancy badly,
Read · 3 min
Environmental health visit: what to expect
If your home has serious disrepair that your landlord has not fixed, you can ask your local council's environmental health team to inspect the property.
Read · 4 min
Making a complaint about your council landlord: how the process works
If you rent from a council (local authority) and there is a problem with your home, disrepair, poor service, or a dispute about your tenancy, you have the
Read · 3 min
First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber): what it is and when tenants can use it
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) is an independent judicial body that hears a range of disputes involving residential property in England. For
Read · 3 min
Free housing legal advice in England: where to get it
Housing law is complex, and getting the wrong advice, or no advice, at the wrong moment can be costly. The good news is that there are several sources of
Read · 2 min
HHSRS Category 1 hazard: what it means and what happens next
If your council inspects your home and finds serious problems, they may describe the issues as "Category 1 hazards" under the Housing Health and Safety
Read · 3 min
Housing improvement notice: what it means for tenants
If your local council's environmental health team inspects your rented home and finds serious hazards, they can issue a formal notice requiring your landlord
Read · 3 min
Tenancy deposit adjudication: how it works
If your landlord tries to make deductions from your deposit at the end of a tenancy and you disagree, you can ask the deposit protection scheme to
Read · 3 min
How to complain to a housing association: step by step
Housing associations manage millions of rented homes in England. If you have a problem, repairs not done, antisocial behaviour ignored, poor service, you
Read · 3 min
Data subject access request: what information can you get from your landlord?
A data subject access request (DSAR or SAR) is a legal right that allows you to ask for a copy of personal information that an organisation holds about you.
Read · 3 min
Second-hand smoke in a rented property: your rights
Cigarette smoke from a neighbour passing through walls, ceilings, floors, or shared ventilation can be a significant health concern and a source of serious
Read · 3 min
Legal Ombudsman: complaining about a housing solicitor
If a solicitor has handled your housing case badly, you may be able to complain to the Legal Ombudsman. This is a free, independent service that deals with
Read · 3 min
Mediation for housing disputes: how it works and when to use it
Mediation is a way of resolving disputes without going to court. In housing disputes, mediation can sometimes help landlords and tenants reach an agreement
Read · 2 min
Environmental health complaint about disrepair: how it works
Your local council's environmental health team can inspect your home and, if they find a serious hazard, legally order your landlord to fix it. It is free
Read · 3 min
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