New data from the Local Government Ombudsman has once again shown Haringey Council topping the charts* for most complaints upheld per head of population: retaining its title as England’s ‘most rotten’ borough.
This is the third year on the bounce that Haringey has topped the list, with 19.2 complaints per 100,000 people.
376 complaints against Haringey made their way to the Ombudsman, up from 264 last year – a 40% increase, and 89% of complaints were upheld, compared with an average of 78% across the country.
These statistics follow numerous failings in individual areas over the past eighteen months, including a ‘shocking’ safeguarding crisis, becoming the most complained about council for damp and mould, and being served with an unprecedented financial warning by auditors.
Following the report, Cllr Luke Cawley-Harrison (LD-Crouch End), Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Haringey, said:
“Worst in 2024, worst in 2025 and now worst again in 2026. These statistics are disgraceful.
“The previous Labour administration was clearly making absolutely no progress on turning around our failing council, and residents made their views clear on their appalling record when the Labour Party was booted out of office earlier this year.
“I sincerely hope that Haringey’s new Green administration will be able to turn this around, but three months in and we know residents are continuing to raise the same complaints and experience the same culture as before. We in the Lib Dems will make sure to hold them to account, and keep fighting for the responsive local government people need.”
