London Borough of Bromley (20 012 225)

Report Upheld Homelessness 16-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr B complained that the London Borough of Bromley failed to deal properly with his approaches to them for help when he was threatened with homelessness in 2019. He complained that initially the Council failed to accept a duty when his landlord wrote to him to ask him to leave. He also complained that later, although it did agree to provide some help, the Council still failed to effectively and promptly secure accommodation for him and his family until he complained, which was over a year after he first approached it for help.

London Borough of Lambeth (21 017 225)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 16-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council has dealt with Mr X whilst he is homeless. This is because he has a right of appeal to court and it would be reasonable to expect him to use this right.

Birmingham City Council (21 018 006)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 16-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complains the Council has unreasonably refused to accept a housing duty towards him despite his homelessness plus poor health. We will not investigate this matter because Mr X has statutory appeal rights, he can use to challenge the Council’s decision.

London Borough of Brent (21 018 235)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 15-Mar-2022

Summary: Miss X complains the Council has unreasonably ended its prevention of homelessness duty in her case by failing to consider her medical evidence properly. We will not investigate this matter because Miss X has statutory appeal rights she can use to challenge the Council’s decision.

Westminster City Council (21 000 049)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 11-Mar-2022

Summary: . The Council’s failure to tell Miss X about her statutory right to review decisions about the suitability of temporary accommodation is fault. The Council also failed properly to assess the risk to Miss X from COVID-19 of remaining in the property while it underwent repairs. The Council has agreed to apologise, pay £500, and take action to improve its services.

Eastbourne Borough Council (21 003 564)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 11-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained about the way the Council handled her homelessness application and housing priority. She also complained her initial temporary accommodation was unsuitable. The Ombudsman found fault causing injustice in the Council’s failure to properly support Mrs X when she was threatened with homelessness, when it delayed accepting the homelessness relief and full housing duties, and through its failures to communicate with Mrs X. The Council agreed to apologise and pay Mrs X £400.

Allerdale Borough Council (21 003 948)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 11-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s decision to end its duty to provide interim accommodation to her son, Mr F between June and November 2020. There was no fault in the Council’s decisions to end its duties during that period. The Council was at fault for failing to provide Mr F with a letter about ending its housing duty and for including flawed information in a letter to him when he was evicted from a property in October 2020. However, those faults did not cause Mr F a significant injustice.

London Borough of Bromley (21 016 275)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 11-Mar-2022

Summary: I will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with the complainants reports of housing disrepair and how it supported him when he moved to a new property. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in how the Council has dealt with the matter.

Blackburn with Darwen Council (21 000 996)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 10-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to provide her with suitable temporary accommodation when a housing association started possession proceedings on her secure tenancy home. She further complained it failed to protect her belongings. The Council assisted Ms X in line with relevant law and guidance and was not at fault.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (21 016 216)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 09-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council offering Miss X a property. Even if the Council did not tell Miss X she would stop being eligible to bid for social housing if she accepted a property it offered, that did not directly cause a significant injustice. Miss X could have appealed to the court about the suitability of the offer. Part of the complaint is also late.