Councillors in Merton are calling for legal action against Merton's biggest housing group over its poor repairs and maintenance record.

The move is a response to hundreds of complaints from residents, some of whom now want to see the Government's housing watchdog investigate Circle Housing Merton Priory (CHMP) over its poor maintenance service.

Earlier this month, government body the Housing and Communities Agency (HCA) slammed parent company Circle Housing Group after an investigation found it was exposing tenants in Tower Hamlets to risk of serious harm.

Now councillors in south Wimbledon are consulting with Merton Council officers about calling for a similar HCA investigation in Merton.

September 2014: Private repair companies 'repeatedly over-charging social housing tenants' as part of a £220m contract

September 2014: Independent auditors hired to investigate fraud allegations at Circle Housing Merton Priory

December 2014: Boss of Circle Housing Merton claims 'shocking' repairs in Merton are 'teething problems'

January 2015: MP Stephen Hammond accuses housing association of delaying publication of fraud investigation

Councillor Katy Neep, who represents Abbey ward, said: "We are as ward councillors bitterly disappointed with Circle Housing for their continued failure to manage repairs.

"They have promised time and again that they are dealing with the backlog of repairs and that their systems have been revised to that residents will receive a timely response but these promises have repeatedly been broken."

She said in just three canvassing visits in January to the High Path Estate, which is managed by CHMP, ward councillors picked up 50 maintenance and repairs complaints which have not been efficiently dealt with by CHMP.

Jana Taylor, a leaseholder on the High Path Estate who asked councillors to support residents in taking a case to the HCA, said: "I want to make sure that Merton is being looked at.

"They are a not-for-profit organisation that's supposed to be looking after the social housing tenants, leaseholders and freeholders and they are not doing their jobs properly.

"We have taken this up with councillors and pursued all the other available avenues and now it's time for the HCA to get involved."

She said the worst example of CHMP's "not fit for purpose service" is a leaking pipe on the estate which has been causing dangerous damp and mould in several properties since September.

Islington Council has recently served a number of statutory notices on Circle Housing Group for repairs failures as part of a £350m contract with Kier, according to property publication Inside Housing.

This Is Local London:

HQ: Circle Housing Merton Priory's offices in Morden 

CHMP's repairs service covers 9,500 properties across Merton and is provided through a £220m contract with Keepmoat Property Services.

Stephen Hammond MP, who said he received close to 100 complaints about CHMP repairs in 2014, said he was in favour of an HCA investigation "if it helps to get repairs done on time and of proper quality".

He said he noticed the quality of repairs getting worse after Circle changed its repairs service in 2012.

In that year Circle reduced its contractors from around 180 to just six, in a move aiming to save £100m over 10 years.

A CHMP spokeswoman said: “Circle Housing of which Circle Housing Merton Priory is one part, takes its obligations around repairs and maintenance extremely seriously. 

"We would like to reassure residents that we have a comprehensive plan in place, and are working with our contractors to deal with all outstanding cases, improve our systems, and bring our services back up to an acceptable standard. This continues to be our highest priority."

“Circle Housing Merton Priory is aware that it still has to make significant improvements to its repairs and maintenance service. 

"Last year we introduced a robust plan of action to achieve this. We are making progress but it will take time.”

Are you in favour of an investigation into CHMP's repairs and maintenance service?

Comment below, or email louisa.clarence@london.newsquest.co.uk.