Serious failures or delays by social housing landlords have more than quadrupled in the past year, according to the Housing Ombudsman Service.
Property condition was the leading cause of complaints, accounting for 37%, with complaints handling coming second. The ombudsman said local authorities end up with more maladministration findings as they have "less resources to offer reasonable redress". But he said the data showed a "fundamental gap between some of the services landlords deliver and the reasonable expectations of their residents".
Darren Rodwell, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, which represents councils, said they are working hard to deliver good outcomes for tenants "despite significant financial constraints".