Housing secretary Sajid Javid (pictured above) has announced that the government is considering options to ensure tenants aren’t left battling with their landlord or builders to resolve problems with their property.

These issues will be discussed during an eight-week consultation, which aims to create a simpler and better complaints system that will see future disputes resolved at a faster pace.

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Options to be considered in the consultation include:

• introducing a single housing ombudsman to cover the whole of the housing market
• whether housebuilders should be required to join an ombudsman scheme, following on from the government’s commitment to expand redress to tenants of private landlords
• naming and shaming poor practice to help tackle the worst abuses.

“For too long, tenants and homeowners have navigated multiple complaints procedures to resolve disputes about everyday household repairs and maintenance,” said Mr Javid.

“Fixing this housing crisis is about more than just building homes, it’s ensuring people have the answers available when something goes wrong.

“Today’s top-to-bottom review shows government is working hard to deliver a better and simpler system.”

From April, the government will introduce new measures to crack down on rogue landlords and protect tenants from those who profit from providing overcrowded and dangerous homes.