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 to be