Gove warns housing association that ignored complaints from tenant

MINISTER SAYS: ‘I WILL TAKE PERSONAL INTEREST IN HOW YOU DELIVER RESPONSIBILITIES TO RESIDENTS’

- CHRIS GEE

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 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 their system, an ombudsman's report found.

In a letter to Cath Farrell, interim chief executive of the housing association, which rents out 8,000 homes in Bury, Mr Gove referred 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: "When you did eventually acknowledge the complaints, internal communications contained wholly inappropriate remarks."

The original report, published last month, said Miss Farmes' noise nuisance complaints were ignored or not acted upon effectively for nearly two years. Internal correspondence contained comments including officers saying they "couldn't be bothered" to add her complaints to their system.