Social housing residents’ vulnerabilities too often missed, says ombudsman

Grief and financial distress must be considered among factors that can make a social housing resident vulnerable, according to a new report calling for a Royal Commission with the aim of forming a long-term plan for the sector.

The Housing Ombudsman Service said it has seen evidence of landlords failing to consider such vulnerabilities, giving examples of insensitive comments made to a woman about her terminally-ill daughter and landlords losing the ashes of residents’ family members.

In its latest report focused on attitudes, rights and respect, the ombudsman said it had assessed what it means