Below Standard Property Handover and Safety Failures in Accrington & Hyndburn
My experience with Accent Housing in the Accrington and Hyndburn borough has been extremely disappointing and, at times, concerning from a safety perspective.
Numerous issues were present that should have been identified and resolved before the property was re-let. I have had to make repeated phone calls simply to have repairs logged correctly, with follow-up calls required because some jobs were not recorded at all. This lack of communication has resulted in unnecessary delays, frustration, and time taken off work.
There is clear evidence of damage left by the previous tenant which has been dismissed as “cosmetic” and unfairly passed on to the incoming tenant. This includes in excess of 27 burn marks on the bedroon window sills, mismatched kitchen cupboard doors, rusty radiators throughout the house, and generally poor finishes — all at a cost to the new tenant.
More seriously, there are unresolved electrical safety concerns. The property is supposed to have a compliant cooker terminal, yet the existing installation is inadequate. In addition, a nearby plug socket has caused electric shocks, raising concerns about the safety of the electrical system.
Despite reporting this as an emergency, I waited over four hours for attendance scheduled, only to be told that the issue was not classed as an emergency and that tgey had other jobs to do. No one attended at all. This response to a potential electrocution risk is unacceptable and has left me feeling my children would be unsafe in the property.
Basic hygiene and maintenance standards have also been overlooked. Bathroom light pull cords are blackened and unhygienic, and routine checks that should have been completed before the tenancy began were clearly missed.
Overall, the poor communication, repeated failures to log repairs, dismissal of previous tenant damage, and the handling of serious electrical safety concerns reflect badly on Accent Housing’s property standards and emergency response within the Accrington and Hyndburn area. This experience has fallen well below what should reasonably be expected from a housing association.
January 19, 2026
Unprompted review