Landlords may be under pressure from licensing rules but complaints of damp, mould and unsafe living conditions in council homes have increased by 560% since 2020, research suggests.
Additionally, figures show local authorities are on track for another record year in 2025.
The data, based on a freedom of information request by Veritas Solicitors, found some of the UK’s largest city councils, including Cardiff, recorded the highest number of complaints at 2,298 since 2020, followed by Manchester (2,092), Leicester (1,648), and City of Westminster (1,615).
Across individual councils, the scale of increase is significant, as Leicester saw a 1,340% rise in complaints between 2020 and 2024, whilst Newcastle recorded the steepest overall rise, reaching 587 complaints by September 2025 compared to just 51 in 2020.
Cardiff saw the highest single-year total with 673 complaints in 2024, where Manchester remained consistently among the worst-performing areas, averaging more than 350 complaints per year for six consecutive years.
The City of Westminster also recorded consistently high complaint levels, reaching 418 in the latest year, reflecting the same increased pressure on councils seen across the country.
Each council received hundreds of complaints every year, highlighting that housing disrepair remains an issue nationwide for tenants.
Reports of black mould, leaks, damp, infestations and broken heating systems have become commonplace, with many residents waiting months for repairs to be completed.
The figures come as Awaab’s Law, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 from mould in his home, comes into force this year, setting strict time limits for landlords to fix reported hazards.
Faraz Fazal, managing partner at Veritas Solicitors, said: “The rising number of complaints shows there are ongoing failings in how housing repairs are managed.”
“We regularly hear from residents dealing with black mould, persistent leaks, broken boilers and infestations.
“Tenants have a legal right to live in safe, habitable homes, but too many are left waiting far too long for essential repairs.
“We need stronger oversight and faster responses from councils.”
The findings also follow the Housing Ombudsman 2024 report, which found that 73% of its complaints resulted in maladministration because the landlord did not follow its legal requirements, policy or process.
Veritas Solicitors is calling for stronger national oversight and improved transparency in repair response times.
Faraz added: “Every tenant deserves to live in a home that’s safe and properly maintained,” Faraz added.
“Councils need to take complaints seriously, communicate clearly with residents, and deliver repairs promptly.
“Without meaningful change, this crisis will continue to grow, and more families will suffer the consequences.”
