Milton Keynes Council (21 002 400)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 01-Feb-2022

Summary: Mr X complained about a lack of support from the Council with his homelessness, causing him distress. The Council was at fault for not properly communicating with him about COVID-19 vaccination programme. It has already apologised for the distress caused, which is an appropriate remedy. It was also at fault for providing inconsistent information about the powers under which it offered interim accommodation but this did not cause Mr X an injustice. It was not at fault for offering interim accommodation outside its area.

Liverpool City Council (21 005 756)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 07-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the housing support provided to her by the Council. This is because we consider it unlikely an investigation would find fault by the Council. In addition, Miss X has a right of appeal by which she can challenge the decision to detain her under the Mental Health Act 1983.

London Borough of Lambeth (20 011 283)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 25-Nov-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for failing to provide comprehensive advice and information about Mrs X’s housing situation, failing to make a direct offer of housing in line with its letter to Mrs X, delays in dealing with the case and unfairly raising Mrs X’s expectations about a property she viewed. It should apologise, and pay her £2,000 for the frustration and uncertainty caused, and the time and trouble pursuing the Council over many months. It should also review its processes to avoid a recurrence of these faults.

Liverpool City Council (21 000 051)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 28-Oct-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for not communicating clearly with Mrs X about a complaint it had received about a property she managed and about a proposed inspection of that property, including its approach to safety in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It should apologise. It was not at fault for deciding to carry out the inspection nor for initially proposing to issue a licence for the property for 12 months only.

London Borough of Southwark (20 007 548)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 23-Jul-2021

Summary: The accommodation provider, acting on behalf of the Council, was at fault for destroying Ms X’s belongings but has made an appropriate payment to remedy this. The Council was not at fault for deciding Ms X was not in priority need, nor for evicting her in late February 2020, which was shortly before the national lockdown in response to COVID-19.

London Borough of Ealing (20 004 878)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 13-Jul-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for not sending Mr X its homeless decision in writing, causing him to lose his right to ask for a review. It should reissue its decision, giving him a fresh right of review should he wish to challenge it. The Council was not at fault for evicting Mr X from hotel accommodation provided under the Everyone In initiative in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Northamptonshire District Council (20 008 716)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 21-Jun-2021

Summary: On the basis of information seen, there was no fault in the way the Council handled Mr X’s temporary accommodation from late March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was at fault for not informing him of the service charges for alternative accommodation provided in early July 2020, for which it has apologised and waived the charges. This was an appropriate remedy.

City of York Council (20 009 245)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 21-Jun-2021

Summary: Miss X complained about the way the Council handled her homelessness applications, the cost of emergency accommodation provided during the COVID-19 pandemic and its housing register decision. The Council was at fault for not reviewing its housing register decision when Miss X provided further information in February 2020. It should apologise and carry out a review of that decision.