London Borough of Southwark (20 013 369)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 17-Jan-2022

Summary: There was fault by the Council. It has not evidenced that it made sure the property it procured for Mr B was in a reasonable condition and suitable for him. It did not advise Mr B of his rights and how to raise issues about the property, and did not give him the support he needed to resolve these issues. This caused Mr B uncertainty and frustration and impacted on his wellbeing. The Council has agreed to improve its service. It should also apologise to Mr B and make a payment to him.

London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (21 013 252)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 14-Jan-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint alleging the Council failed to address issues in his joint tenancy. This complaint relates to the Council’s management of its social housing and lies outside our legal remit.

Westminster City Council (21 013 294)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 13-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s homelessness application. The Council has offered a suitable remedy for some faults dealing with the application. It is now for the Council, not the Ombudsman, to decide what homelessness duties the Council owes Mr X.

Westminster City Council (21 013 368)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 13-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Miss X’s homelessness application. This is because Miss X had the right to go to court.

London Borough of Enfield (21 003 098)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 10-Jan-2022

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide suitable accommodation on accepting its homelessness duty and to review suitability. The Council says it reviewed suitability, agreed the property was not suitable and helped Miss X secure a more suitable home. We found the Council acted with fault. The Council failed without delay to move Miss X into suitable accommodation fulfilling its legal duty to do so. The Council has agreed to pay Miss X £1,800 for the time spent in unsuitable accommodation.

London Borough of Enfield (21 008 742)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 07-Jan-2022

Summary: We found fault with the Council for placing Ms B in unsuitable interim accommodation. This caused her an injustice. The Council agreed actions to remedy the injustice.

London Borough of Havering (21 005 637)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 04-Jan-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council left his family in unsuitable temporary accommodation. The Council was at fault for failing to properly apply its housing allocations policy. However, this did not cause Mr X a significant personal injustice as the Council changed its decision and agreed they needed urgent re-housing a week later. The Council has agreed to remind its staff they must properly consider its priority criteria when deciding someone’s banding.

London Borough of Hackney (21 000 713)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 23-Dec-2021

Summary: the Council delayed considering Mr B’s homeless application, failed to follow the homelessness code of guidance and failed to respond to Mr B’s contact. There is no fault in the allocation of interim accommodation to Mr B but fault by the Council meant he could not challenge the suitability of that accommodation. An apology, changes to procedures and payment to Mr B is satisfactory remedy.

Gravesham Borough Council (21 004 142)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 22-Dec-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council made a housing decision on his homelessness. That is because he previously applied to the Court to judicially review the Council’s decision. Therefore, his complaint is outside our jurisdiction.

Luton Borough Council (21 008 891)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 17-Dec-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s alleged failure to meet its housing duties. This is because the Council has agreed our recommendation to provide a remedy to Miss X for part of the complaint. It is reasonable for Miss X to appeal to court about the remaining issues.