A report commissioned by the Housing Corporation has found housing associations guilty of “deeply ingrained patterns of institutional racism” in their attitude towards ethnic minority employees.

The report, which is due to be published in mid-autumn, was compiled by researchers from the universities of Salford, Lincolnshire and Humberside.

The researchers found associations employed fewer senior managers from ethnic minorities than the top 100 private UK companies.

The researchers surveyed more than 100 housing associations in England and spoke to black, ethnic minority and white workers.

The report said black employees were more concerned about racism from colleagues than from tenants or members of the public, and that they did not trust their employers to handle racist incidents or complaints effectively.

The corporation refused to comment on the report’s finding until its official publication.

However, a spokesman for London mayoral candidate and broadcaster Trevor Phillips, who accused the corporation of institutional racism for its failure to employ black workers in senior positions, said the report backed up his comments.

The spokesman said: “People will want to see the corporation act in its role as a guardian of public money to address the issues with associations. But the corporation must also sort out its own act and produce tangible results for equal opportunities.”