UK Housing Ombudsman Service Investigates Third-Party IT Security Incident

Incident Impacting Case Management System

The UK Housing Ombudsman Service is investigating a third-party IT security incident that affected its case management system. This incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has temporarily halted the online submission of new complaints by social housing residents.

The Housing Ombudsman, established under the Housing Act 1996, resolves disputes between social housing residents and landlords in England. The service is working with its external provider to understand the full scope of the incident.

Operational Adjustments and Data Assessment

Following the incident, the service has advised individuals needing to file new complaints to use its phone line or email address. The incident has been contained, and the organization is currently assessing the extent of data involvement, including whether any personal information has been compromised.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has been notified about the security breach.

Precautionary Measures for Residents

As a precautionary measure, the Housing Ombudsman Service has recommended that tenants and leaseholders remain vigilant against potential scams. They advise exercising caution when responding to unexpected communications and not disclosing personal information unless the requester's identity is confirmed. Suspicious activity should be reported to relevant authorities.

Broader Context of UK Public Sector Security

This incident follows other security challenges within the UK public sector. In March, Companies House experienced a security flaw that exposed company information, leading to its WebFiling service being taken offline. Earlier in January, the UK government announced a new cybersecurity strategy with over £210 million in funding to strengthen cyber defenses across government departments and the wider public sector.