Council apologises after 'mould' ignored at rental property in Coventry

Mr D said the 'disrepair' at his property was not properly addressed by Coventry City Council



A Coventry man has received an apology after his housing issues were ignored. Mr D repeatedly contacted Coventry City Council, but the 'disrepair' in his home was not properly addressed.

Coventry City Council failed to investigate problems at the private rental property, including a 'persistent' roof leak, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found. But they blamed the delay in resolving the issues on staff shortages.

Mr D reported the leak to Coventry City Council in October 2023. Officers had offered to visit the property but said Mr D declined. He disputed that the exchange had occurred.

In February 2024, Mr D reached out again to Coventry City Council. Although there were attempts to fix the roof, the leak persisted.

When the property was inspected, damp and mould from the leak were found and had caused staining in a cupboard. Although repairs were promised, Mr D said he did not hear anything.

Frustrated with the lack of progress, Mr D formally complained about Coventry City Council to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in January 2025. He said the disrepair had not been properly addressed and that his case had been 'poorly' handled.

Coventry City Council admitted its shortcomings and acknowledged that it had failed to return calls and keep him updated. Officials told Mr D that his case 'had not been progressed as it should have been' and a formal apology was issued.

Officers visited the property in January this year and found that the mould and damp issues had been resolved. However, they noted major delays, particularly with communication and case handling.

Mr D also expressed dissatisfaction with the company that manages his rental property, but Coventry City Council said it was unable to intervene in that matter as the firm was privately operated. Nevertheless, it has committed to monitoring the situation and ensuring that any further issues are rectified.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/damp-mould-mans-council-house-33077341