Complaints about social housing repairs soar
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/complaints-about-social-housing-repairs-soar
Houses under construction on a housing development in Basingstokehttps://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/complaints-about-social-housing-repairs-soar
THE government came under pressure to let tenants withhold rent over disrepair today, after complaints from social housing residents jumped by over 40 per cent.
A report by the Housing Ombudsman revealed it had to intervene 26,901 times between April 2024 and March 2025 in disputes about landlords’ failings.
Property condition was the most common complaint category, with complaints about repairs soaring by 43 per cent.
Over 40 per cent of the £5.4 million compensation ordered was for failures in handling leaks, damp and mould.
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Greenpeace activists in custody after scaling power station’s 75-metre chimney stacks
Greenpeace climbers scale two 75m-high chimney stacks at the UK’s second largest gas-fired power station, Staythorpe Power Station. Photo: GreenpeaceEIGHT Greenpeace activists remained in police custody today after scaling two 75m-high chimney stacks at England’s largest gas-fired power station.
The group climbed maintenance ladders at Staythorpe power station, owned by energy giant RWE, before unfurling a banner reading: “The Great Gas Rip-Off: Now on!”.
Monday’s protest aimed to draw attention to how the cost of the most expensive form of power, usually gas, still determines the price of electricity, which keeps bills high.
This is despite gas generating just 30 per cent of Britain’s electricity, Greenpeace says.
Britain spent an extra £90 billion on gas between 2021 and 2024, following price spikes triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to analysis by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit.
Greenpeace warned that companies can earn huge profits when demand surges, citing an evening in January when two power station owners were paid at least £12 million to supply three hours of electricity following a spell of freezing weather.
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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/greenpeace-activists-custody-after-scaling-power-stations-75-metre-chimney-stacks