Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman highlights how Renters’ Rights Act gives non-tenants access to redress for first time

Until 1 May this year, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) could not look at complaints about housing management from people who were not tenants, and neither could the Housing Ombudsman, which investigates complaints from tenants.

However, changes to the Local Government Act 1974, which came into effect on 1 May 2026, have extended the jurisdiction of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman to cover complaints about local authority social housing management from people who are not tenants.

The Housing Ombudsman will continue to handle complaints from tenants about their social landlord, including where that landlord is a local council.

Amerdeep Clarke, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: "This is a significant and long-overdue change. Until now, people who had genuine concerns about how their council was managing social housing - but who were not tenants themselves - had nowhere to turn once they had exhausted the council's own complaints process.

“These amendments close that gap and ensure that we can provide the independent scrutiny and redress that the public deserves. I would encourage all local authority complaint managers to familiarise themselves with the new arrangements and the signposting tool we have developed."

Lottie Winson