The Government appear to be in full swing in its drive to increase tenant engagement in social housing, as they promote its Make Things Right campaign. 

From Radio adverts to TikTok videos (although I'm far too uncool to have seen these myself), they are raising awareness of how social housing tenants can complain. The message is that tenants shouldn't accept any home that isn't safe, secure and well-maintained, and if a resident has complained to their landlord and are still not happy, they should complain to the housing ombudsman. 

This coincides with the introduction of a Complaint Handling Code for social housing providers (April 2022, with compliance by October 2022) and the removal of certain pre-requisites to make it easier for residents to complain straight to the Housing Ombudsman Service (tenants no longer need to go to an MP, local councillor or tenants’ panel first, and don't have to wait eight weeks after completing the landlord’s complaints processes). 

What isn't yet clear is whether the Housing Ombudsman Service has been sufficiently resourced to deal with the likely increase in complaints, especially given they are already running to a backlog of around twelve months. Not to mention resourcing for social landlords, who are not-for-profit organisations, to continue to improve the condition of their homes. 

Let's hope there is some substance to the message being promoted by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Because who doesn't want to see homes, and indeed communities, that are safe, secure and well-maintained across the board in social housing?