London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (21 015 960)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 30-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to provide Ms X with housing. There is not enough evidence of fault to warrant an investigation. Also, part of the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to exercise our discretion and investigate.

London Borough of Hackney (21 016 672)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 30-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the housing register because there is insufficient evidence of injustice and because part of the complaint is late.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (21 018 135)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 30-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complains that despite being statutorily overcrowded, the Council has not moved her to larger accommodation. We will not investigate the complaint because there is no evidence of fault in how the Council has dealt with her case sufficient to warrant investigation.

Buckinghamshire Council (21 006 251)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 29-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council dealt with the complainant’s her housing application. This is because we could not add anything significant to the Council’s response to her complaint.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (21 006 331)

Statement Upheld Allocations 29-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complains the Council rejected his application for the housing register and did not correctly apply its allocations policy. This meant his application was refused rather than assessed. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for how it handled communication about Mr X’s application and his complaint. The Council has agreed to pay financial remedy in recognition of the distress caused to Mr X and consider service improvements. The Ombudsman does not fault with the Council for how its allocation policy was applied.

West Suffolk Council (21 018 049)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to reduce her priority on her housing application and to end its duty to rehouse here. This is because she had a right of appeal to court and it was reasonable to expect her to use this.

London Borough of Wandsworth (21 006 909)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 27-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs Y complains about the length of time she has been in Band A under the Council’s housing allocations scheme. We do not find the Council at fault for not making an offer of housing. It has followed its housing allocations scheme and given the application a high priority. It has not made an offer due to the shortage of accommodation.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (21 015 957)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Mr X’s housing application. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Birmingham City Council (20 011 188)

Statement Upheld Allocations 25-Mar-2022

Summary: The Council has failed in its statutory duty to ensure the accommodation it provides for Mrs B’s household is suitable. The Council also failed to properly consider whether Mrs B’s son needed his own room for medical reasons and fettered its discretion when it decided not to allow Mrs B to bid on smaller properties. The Council also delayed reviewing the suitability of Mrs B’s accommodation, delayed reviewing Mrs B’s housing priority and delayed dealing with her complaints. The Council has agreed to make a payment to Mrs B, offer Mrs B suitable temporary accommodation, consider allowing Mrs B to bid on smaller properties and to take action to prevent similar failings in future.

Birmingham City Council (21 017 490)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 25-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not allowing the complainant to join the housing register. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in how the Council reached its decision.