How to complain about Havering Council, and what to do if they ignore you
Havering Council manages around 9,000 homes directly across the outer east London borough. The stock concentrates in Romford, Hornchurch, and Rainham, with a mix of inter-war suburban housing and post-war estates.
Havering's older inter-war stock has a high concentration of single-skin garages converted into habitable rooms in the 1970s and 1980s. Conversions of this era often lack proper damp-proofing and ventilation. If your home includes a converted garage room with persistent damp, that is a structural defect from the conversion itself, not your tenancy behaviour. If Havering Council has ignored you, here's how to claim.
How to complain about Havering Council
If Havering Council has left a repair undone, you have the right to complain, and to escalate it for free if they ignore you. Here is the order to follow.
- 1
Complain in writing. Send Havering Council a written complaint, by email or their online form, and keep a copy. Say what is wrong, when you first reported it, and how it affects you. This is a stage 1 complaint, and they should reply within about 10 working days.
- 2
Ask for a stage 2 review. If you are not happy with the reply, ask Havering Council in writing to look at it again at stage 2, the final stage of their process. They should reply within about 20 working days.
- 3
Escalate to the Housing Ombudsman. If Havering Council still does not put it right, or 8 weeks pass with no proper answer, you can take the complaint to the Housing Ombudsman, the free service that reviews social-housing complaints. The Ombudsman has already named Havering Council in its 2024-25 review for upholding tenants' complaints, so you would not be the first.
- 4
If a repair is still not fixed, get free advice. If the problem is disrepair such as damp, mould, a leak or broken heating and Havering Council has ignored it, call us free. We will tell you where you stand, and you may have a claim. We deal with Havering Council for you, and there is no cost to start.
Talk to us about Havering Council
or answer 2 quick questions
What is the main problem?
What happens after you send the form
- We read your case. Real person, not a bot. Inside 1 working hour during opening times.
- Free 25-minute call. We tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.
- If we proceed, your case goes to one of our SRA-regulated panel solicitors on no-win-no-fee terms. The fee only comes out of your compensation if you win, never out of your own pocket.
Havering Council: Housing Ombudsman record 2024-25
The independent statutory review of social-housing complaints 2024-25 (published 23 September 2025) named Havering Council for upholding tenants' complaints of maladministration over repairs and conditions.
Source: independent statutory complaints review 2024-25. housing-ombudsman.org.uk · published 23 September 2025. See all 2024-25 records.
Havering Council by the numbers
- •Around 9,000 council-owned homes across Havering wards.
- •Mix of inter-war suburban housing and post-war estate stock.
- •Documented issue with damp in 1970s/1980s garage conversions.
What you can do today
- 1.Submit a complaint at havering.gov.uk/info/20019/your_council/27/comments_and_complaints.
- 2.Phone repairs on 01708 434000 and request an Awaab's Law investigation within 10 working days (24 hours if it's an emergency).
- 3.After 8 weeks of no proper response, you may have a claim, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Why work with us
Four things we commit to on every case. No fabricated stats.
No win, no fee
If you don't win, you don't pay us. And you are dealing with a regulated, authorised firm, not a cold-caller.
Nothing to pay up front
You pay nothing to get started, and nothing at all if you lose. If you win, the fee only comes out of your compensation, never out of your own pocket, and it is capped by law.
Honest advice
We tell you on the first call whether your case is worth pursuing. We are not paid by case volume, so you get a straight answer.
Common issues with Havering Council
Based on public statutory complaints records and tenant reports. Awaab's Law deadlines apply regardless of which issue you report.
Damp and mould
Significant hazard: 10 working days to investigate, 5 to complete under Awaab's Law.
We will check the dates, the evidence, and your landlord's response, then tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.
Read your rights
Leaks and flooding
Emergency hazard: investigate in 24 hours under Awaab's Law.
We will check the dates, the evidence, and your landlord's response, then tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.
Read your rights
Broken heating and hot water
Emergency hazard: investigate in 24 hours under Awaab's Law.
We will check the dates, the evidence, and your landlord's response, then tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.
Read your rights
Sample complaint email to Havering Council
Copy this, fill in the bracketed details, and send. Cites Section 11, FFHH Act and Awaab's Law, landlords take it seriously.
Subject: Formal complaint: disrepair at [your address], Section 11 and Awaab's Law Dear Havering Council, I am writing to formally complain about disrepair at my 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 I was given 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 duty 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 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, in force 27 October 2025), if this hazard is an emergency you must investigate within 24 hours and offer alternative accommodation if the home cannot be made safe. If this hazard is a significant hazard, you must investigate within 10 working days, complete the relevant safety work within 5 working days of finishing that investigation, and provide a written summary of your 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 do this yourself? Use our free letter builder for a PDF, or start a claim with us and we'll handle the whole correspondence.
Frequently asked questions about Havering Council
How do I complain about Havering Council?
What can I do if Havering Council have ignored my repairs?
How long does Havering Council have to fix my repair?
How do I report damp and mould to Havering Council?
Can I claim compensation from Havering Council?
What if Havering Council have inspected but done nothing?
How do I escalate a complaint about Havering Council?
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.