The results appear in a document released by the local government ombudsman last month investigating complaints made against Warwick District Council between May 2007 and March 2008.

Findings show the number of residents making official complaints about council housing has risen from six to 13 since in the last 12 months.

Ombudsman Anne Seex said: "During the year I received 26 complaints, a figure consistent with the number I received in the previous year when I received 25. No trends or patterns emerged during the year to give rise to any serious concern, although the council may wish to reflect on possible reasons for the rise in housing complaints from six last year to 13 this year."

District council leader Coun Michael Doody (Con, Radford Semele) was the councillor responsible for housing at the time of the complaints. He explained problems with housing can cover issues including repairs and the home choice system and said: "I am not worried as I think now is the time to act.

"We have not got enough affordable housing in this area and the government is taking £6.8 million a year in taxes from people living in our properties.

"The council's housing department bought 25 properties on the open market last year and can help in a small way but with the government's support we could do it on a much larger scale."

He added: "I can understand why people get frustrated as they feel they want to move on with their lives and they are not being able to. That is something the government and the district council have to be mindful of."

Complaints in other areas, such planning and building control, have fallen and findings also show the average time a customer waits for a response from the council has reduced from 29.2 days to 20.8 days.

Coun Doody said: "We have been working on this for a long time but I am still not happy with it. I would like to get it down to a week but it is about changing things gradually and it is happening."