UK Housing Ombudsman Case Management System Knocked Offline by Third-Party Security Incident

Case Management System Offline After Supplier Incident

The UK Housing Ombudsman Service is dealing with an IT security incident at one of its third-party suppliers, which has disabled the service's case management system. Tenants are currently unable to submit a new complaint, view an existing complaint, or use the service's web chat or webform. The Ombudsman said on its website that the disruption will continue while the incident is investigated and systems are brought back online.

Incident Contained, Data Exposure Still Under Review

In a short press release, the Housing Ombudsman said the incident has been contained and that staff are working with the external supplier to investigate the scope of the incident, including what data may have been involved. The agency said it is continuing to investigate whether any personal information has been affected and promised to provide further updates as soon as it is able. The incident has also been reported to the Information Commissioner.

Tenants Urged to Watch for Phishing

As a precaution, tenants are being advised to be vigilant when receiving unexpected messages that appear to come from the Housing Ombudsman Service, as they could be phishing attempts designed to collect personal or sensitive data. The Ombudsman urged people not to disclose personal information unless they are confident of the requester's identity, and to report any suspicious activity to the relevant organization or authorities.

While the system is being restored, tenants who want to raise a new complaint are advised to email the agency or call it directly. The Housing Ombudsman Service, established under the Housing Act of 1996, is an independent, impartial, and free service for social housing residents in the United Kingdom. Sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, it settles disputes between residents and landlords registered with the social housing scheme, including housing associations, private landlords, and letting agents.

Sources: Cybernews