East Dorset District Council (05B08409)

Housing allocations and Homelessness  Maladministration causing injustice

22 June 2006

East Dorset District Council contracted some of its homelessness and housing register responsibilities to East Dorset Housing Association. ‘Mr Wilson’ (not his real name for legal reasons) approached the Housing Association for assistance with his housing in March 2003. He had nowhere to live and was staying with relatives and friends. He complained that the Housing Association, on the Council’s behalf, delayed offering him suitable accommodation until December 2004 and failed to award his housing application the correct number of points in respect of his homelessness and disability.

The Ombudsman found that the Housing Association made a number of decisions affecting Mr Wilson without putting those decisions in writing or informing Mr Wilson how he could challenge the decisions. This was contrary to the law and Government guidance. The Council also made a number of errors awarding points to Mr Wilson’s housing application. This caused confusion, although the Ombudsman considers that overall the errors were in Mr Wilson’s favour. The Ombudsman also criticised the Council for not having clear arrangements for handling complaints about housing register and homelessness matters.

The Ombudsman found maladministration causing injustice and recommended the Council to: 

• pay Mr Wilson £1,000;
• review its arrangements for discharging its housing and homelessness functions, including reviewing the way East Dorset Housing Association discharges those responsibilities on the Council’s behalf; and
• devise a clear protocol with East Dorset Housing Association for dealing with complaints about Council functions, and for ensuring that complainants have accurate information about whom to complain to.

Date Published: 22/01/09