UN experts, including Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, have written to the UK government voicing concerns that one of England’s biggest social landlords has systematically failed to ensure habitable living conditions for its tenants.
According to an article published in The Guardian, the letter claims that L&Q group’s failure to address issues with their properties may be having a significantly negative impact on tenants' human right to an adequate standard of living.
L&Q own around 88,000 homes in the social housing sector, and operates as a government regulated provider of ‘affordable’ housing across the North West and the South East of England, including in Manchester, after having acquired Trafford Housing Trust in 2019. L&Q generated a turnover of £1.12bn in the year ending 31 March 2024.
The letter quoted by The Guardian cites the case of Sanjay Ramburn, a 55 year-old disabled tenant at an L&Q group property in Forest Gate, East London. Ramburn and his family of five have lived in the L&Q property for several years. Over this time period they reportedly experienced a collapsed ceiling that was not fixed for four years, years without access to electricity, and severe damp and mould which caused Ramburn’s children to develop tinnitus, breathing issues and skin problems.
Ramburn also reported being the victim of racial harassment at the hands of neighbours. According to The Guardian, the letter says that his complaints to L&Q were not addressed, and that Ramburn suffered severe mental health issues due to the racial harassment.
In response, L&Q offered Ramburn £2,271, which reportedly was rejected as “wholly inadequate” compensation for the several years of poor living conditions, health issues and damages suffered by him and his family. While repairing the apartment, L&Q rehoused the family of five in a one bedroom flat.
A 2023 investigation into L&Q by The Housing Ombudsman found that the landlord “repeatedly failed in the cases investigated to meet obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act.” The Ombudsman awarded £141,860 in compensation to residents following the investigation.
Despite reported longstanding problems, a government regulatory judgement in August 2025 found that L&Q met governance requirements but needed to improve in “some aspects.”
According to The Guardian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing described the claims cited by the UN letter as “shocking” and claimed that the government is “taking decisive action to crack down on unsafe [housing] conditions” through Awaab’s law.
The problems reported by the UN are commonly experienced by students as well as residents of social housing. For example, a 2023 investigation by The Mancunion into estate agent Thornley Grove revealed failure of property managers to fix a boiler and remove health hazards over periods as long as four months.
The recent introduction of Awaab's Law, which is specific to social housing, has tightened requirements for landlords to fix health hazards and emergency repairs. Students also stand to benefit as the Renters' Rights act 2025 outlines all the landlord's responsibilities to ensure properties can be kept at a suitable temperature.
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