London Borough of Barnet (20 008 397)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 03-Feb-2022

Summary: we found no evidence of fault in the way the Council carried out a housing assessment for Mr X and in the conduct of officers who telephoned Mr X.

Hastings Borough Council (21 003 061)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 31-Jan-2022

Summary: Miss X complained she suffered abuse in interim accommodation from a live-in manager. Miss X complained the Council is wanting her to pay arrears for interim accommodation costs she has already paid. Miss X also complained the Council failed to provide support for her while she was in interim accommodation. Miss X also complained the Council failed to advise her when it accepted her on to its main housing duty. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the actions of the Council in relation to the interim accommodation. The Ombudsman does find fault with the delay in deciding to accept Miss X on to its main housing duty. The Council agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommendation to apologise to Miss X and provide her with a payment of £300 to reflect the injustice caused through its delay.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (21 014 518)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 31-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint which was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Ms X could not have complained to us sooner about her homeless application and temporary accommodation.

London Borough of Bexley (21 000 386)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 28-Jan-2022

Summary: Miss X complained that the Council offered her unsuitable housing when she and her daughter were homeless, that it failed to properly consider the recommendations of medical professionals, and that it failed to have due regard to its public sector equality duties. Miss X said this caused delays and caused her and her daughter stress, anxiety, and distress. We do not find the Council at fault.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (21 004 864)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 28-Jan-2022

Summary: Ms A complains the Council did not provide suitable accommodation when her property flooded and did not replace the belongings that were damaged in the flood. This caused her to pay for a hotel and replace her items. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council for how it investigated its duty to provide accommodation or for how it communicated with Ms A about the repairs and her belongings.

Hertsmere Borough Council (20 013 783)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 26-Jan-2022

Summary: Mr T complains the Council failed to address issues of disrepair in the accommodation it provided him, whilst deciding if it owed him and his family a homeless duty. The housing provider did not tell the Council about the disrepair, and the Council did not inform Mr T that he should escalate issues of disrepair to it if unresolved, which was fault. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr T and make a payment to him for the distress and inconvenience caused.

London Borough of Haringey (21 014 068)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 26-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint which was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Miss X could not have complained to us sooner about disrepair in her previous temporary accommodation.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (21 001 003)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 20-Jan-2022

Summary: Ms B complained about the Council’s response when she approached them as homeless because she was at risk of domestic abuse. We found fault with the Council. The Council agreed actions to remedy the injustice to Ms B.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (21 002 553)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Jan-2022

Summary: The Council failed to assess the affordability of accommodation it helped Ms Y to secure following acceptance of a duty to relieve her homelessness. Consequently, Ms Y suffered injustice because the Council wrongly ceased its duty and she resided in accommodation which was unsuitable on affordability grounds. The Council will now review Ms Y’s case, pay £150 for each month during which Ms Y was in unaffordable accommodation and remind its officers of the requirement to assess affordability.

Redditch Borough Council (21 003 335)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Jan-2022

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide appropriate housing support to her adult son Mr Y, a care leaver. The Council was at fault when it delayed reviewing the decision Mr Y was intentionally homeless, failed to offer him temporary accommodation and failed to support him with accessing other housing authorities. This caused Miss X and Mr Y uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr Y and write setting out his options. It has also agreed to remind staff of the need to keep accurate records and of the need to work cooperatively to address the housing needs of care leavers.