UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Bromley tops UK councils with 365,344 FixMyStreet complaints from 2007-2025, followed by Westminster (171,661) and Hounslow (223,726), all London boroughs dominating the list per Sell House Fast analysis. Street cleaning and fly-tipping drive Bromley’s lead, with residents 20 times above national average on street issues, as reported across Yahoo News UK and Evening Standard.
Inverted Pyramid Lead
Bromley council in London received the highest number of complaints in the UK, totalling 365,344 between 2007 and 2025 according to FixMyStreet data analysed by property firm Sell House Fast. Westminster and Hounslow, also London boroughs, ranked second and third with 171,661 and 223,726 complaints respectively, highlighting urban dissatisfaction. The study, covered by Yahoo News UK, revealed Bromley residents lodge 108,954 complaints per 100,000 people, far exceeding national norms.
Sell House Fast’s investigation identified street cleaning (over 13,000 in Bromley) and fly-tipping (over 7,000) as primary concerns, with those in the top area 20 times more likely to report street conditions than average. The Evening Standard echoed these figures, noting London’s prominence in the top ten. No official council responses appeared in the reports.
Other high-ranking councils included Buckinghamshire (335,510 total, 57,969 per 100,000) and Cheshire East (173,688 total), but London held three of the top spots. The analysis spanned 2007-2025, focusing on public reports via the platform.
Top Ten Councils List
Sell House Fast ranked the UK councils by total FixMyStreet complaints from 2007-2025, normalising per 100,000 residents. As detailed in Yahoo News UK:
- Bromley: 365,344 total complaints (108,954 per 100,000 residents).
- Westminster: 171,661 total (81,745 per 100,000).
- Hounslow: 223,726 total (74,719 per 100,000).
- Isle of Wight: 105,356 total (74,372 per 100,000).
The list continued with:
- Buckinghamshire: 335,510 total (57,969 per 100,000).
- Merton: 114,950 total (52,599 per 100,000).
- Brent: 185,373 total (52,000 per 100,000, approximate from snippet).
- Bexley: 108,868 total (42,455 per 100,000).
The Evening Standard republished the identical top ten, confirming Bromley’s lead and London’s trio at positions 1, 2, and 3.
Bromley Complaint Drivers
Yahoo News UK, citing Sell House Fast, explained Bromley’s position: “The predominant concerns in the borough include street cleaning (over 13,000 complaints) and fly-tipping (over 7,000 complaints), suggesting ongoing maintenance difficulties within Bromley’s suburban areas.” Residents report issues 20 times more than the national average for street conditions.
No specific reasons for Westminster or Hounslow were detailed beyond totals, though urban density likely contributes. The study emphasised cleanliness and dumping as top UK-wide issues.
Contrasting Earlier Studies
Claims.co.uk’s 2022 analysis of Housing Ombudsman data (2016-2022) named different leaders among English councils. Haringey topped with 45.3 complaints per 10,000 residents (70.19% upheld), followed by Lambeth (44.7 per 10,000, housing dominant with 433 complaints) and Newham (40.1 per 10,000, 69.32% upheld).
London dominated that top ten: Ealing (low 60.42% uphold rate), others unnamed but nine of ten in Greater London. Torbay was the sole non-London entry at tenth (31.7 per 10,000). Kingston upon Hull had fewest at 2.6 per 10,000.
Counties saw Isle of Wight second (22.8 per 10,000, adult social care focus), Cornwall third (22.5, 103 housing complaints). Education and children’s services led categories nationally (21,203 complaints), ahead of adult social care (16,232) and housing (14,074).
Ombudsman and Official Data
LG Inform tracked Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman decisions, including referrals back for local resolution in 2024/25, but no full rankings provided in snippets. North Northamptonshire’s modern gov document referenced the LGSCO Annual Review 2024-25, noting record complaints received.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) issued 2025 data via their site, positioning themselves as final stage for council and care complaints, investigated fairly without bias. No specific council leaders named there.
Citizen’s Advice CCW reported water company complaints fell 8% to 205,853 in 2025, while their own rose 3% to 8,235, unrelated to councils.
Regional Patterns
London boroughs feature heavily, with Bromley, Westminster, Hounslow, Brent, Bexley, and Merton in recent top ten. Claims.co.uk noted Greater London’s dissatisfaction, fining Lambeth £6,425 for housing negligence.
Non-London areas like Isle of Wight, Buckinghamshire, and Bath highlight varied grievances. Buckinghamshire Council published its own 2024-2025 compliments and complaints report, summarising from 1 April, but specifics unavailable.
Community Life Survey 2024/25 by gov.uk showed civic engagement varying, with 69% of authorities in line with England’s average, not directly tying to complaints.
Implications for Local Government
High FixMyStreet volumes indicate active resident engagement via the platform, potentially reflecting population size or reporting culture rather than service failure alone. Sell House Fast noted maintenance challenges in suburban Bromley.
Ombudsman uphold rates in earlier data (e.g., Haringey 70.19%) suggest many complaints valid, prompting improvements like Knowsley and Eden’s reductions. Bradford, UK City of Culture 2025, had low 4.6 per 10,000 with 60.89% upheld.
No 2025 council statements responded to Sell House Fast findings in sources. Patterns underscore urban cleanliness pressures amid council tax debates, as in Cornwall.
Comparative Metrics
Per capita figures reveal intensity: Bromley (108,954/100k) dwarfs Cheshire East (41,227/100k). Claims.co.uk’s per 10,000 scale showed Haringey (45.3) far above Hull (2.6), with housing and social care dominant.
LGSCO reviews emphasise fair investigations, with 2024/25 record volumes signaling rising public scrutiny.
Broader Context
These reports contrast platforms: FixMyStreet for street issues versus Ombudsman for formal grievances. Yahoo and Standard focused recent data, Claims.co.uk older housing-centric. No overlaps in exact rankings due to scopes.
