Some 19 councils have been named for being among the landlords with the highest proportion of housing maladministration findings.

East Devon DC (89%), and Ealing (71%) and Sutton LBCs (71%) had a maladministration finding rate of 70% or higher in 2021-22.

In a letter to councils with a rate of 50% or higher, Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway wrote: ‘Clearly such a high rate of maladministration is concerning and for issues to occur across this proportion of findings suggests improvements could be made to prevent complaints.'

An East Devon spokesperson said: 'We accept the ombudsman's findings and continue to take a learning approach to all outcomes.'

A spokesperson for Ealing said: 'Covid-19 meant that much-needed maintenance work couldn't be carried out, causing a backlog as we emerged from the pandemic, and the impact of Brexit meant that we were faced with staff and resource shortages.'

Sutton leader Ruth Dombey pointed out the 71% figure was based on complaints by three households out of nearly 7,500 tenants and leaseholders.

She added: ‘It is confusing (and potentially misleading) that the Housing Ombudsman defines maladministration in a different way to the Local Government Ombudsman.'

New requirements for social housing landlords to report on tenant satisfaction are due to come into force in April, the Social Housing Bill has proposed regular Ofsted-style inspections and unlimited fines for failing landlords from spring 2024, and the complaint handling code will be placed on a statutory footing.

Managing director of the National Federation of Arms-Length Management Organisations trade body, Eamon McGoldrick, told The MJ: ‘Since the Government got rid of the Audit Commission I think we've got to a situation where you can get away with poor housing management.'

In a separate report earlier this month, Mr Blakeway urged social landlords to take a ‘zero-tolerance approach' to damp and mould after the tragic and preventable death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak as a result of exposure in his Rochdale home.

Mr McGoldrick said: ‘I've been quite depressed at the way the housing sector has been dealing with damp and mould.

'We've just taken our eye off the ball on the basics of housing management.

'As a sector and a profession, I think we've been distracted by targets, mergers and chief executives' pay.

‘In some cases housing management has been all over the shop.

'This is about professionals either not knowing how to do their job or not doing it.'