Housing association tells woman they can't be bothered to look into noise issue
11.09.2023 - 18:07
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A housing association has been slammed by government minister Michael Gove after it ignored a resident's noise complaints for years.
Tracey Farmes, who lives in an end terrace home on the Coronation Road estate in Radcliffe was told by officers from Six Town Housing they 'couldn't be bothered' to log her complaints to the system - an ombudsman report found.
In a letter to Cath Farrell, interim chief executive of the housing association, who rent out 8,000 homes in Bury, Mr Gove responded to the ombudsman's report which found severe maladministration by the housing association.
He said Six Town’s response to complaints from Miss Farmes was ‘not acceptable’ and that they chose ‘not to respond to her’. He added that ‘when you did eventually acknowledge the complaints, internal communications contained wholly inappropriate remarks’.
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The original ombudsman report, published last month, said Miss Farmes had noise nuisance complaints ignored or not acted on effectively on for nearly two years. Internal correspondence contained inappropriate remarks, including officers saying they ‘couldn’t be bothered’ to add her complaints to their system.
Miss Farmes, who has lived in her home since 1999, said she felt ‘completely ignored and let down’ by Six Town Housing and that she felt victimised, increasing her mental health difficulties. The ombudsman said that irrespective of officer’s views about her reports, the landlord should have treated her with respect and clearly communicated its position.
The letter from Michael Gove, said: “I write following a finding of severe maladministration by the Housing Ombudsman, for your lack of