Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (23 016 020)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 22-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s ‘relocation grant’ (RG) process and decision in 2019, that it did not help with her new property’s purchase costs, and that it has not helped others with its RG scheme. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons to do so now. Even if we accepted the complaint as in time, we would not have investigated because there is not enough evidence of Council fault to have justified an investigation and we could not have achieved the outcome she wants. There would be insufficient personal injustice to Mrs X from the Council’s current use of the scheme to warrant an investigation.

Birmingham City Council (23 015 235)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 21-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the outcome of his occupational therapy assessment. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (23 015 209)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 19-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the outcome of his father’s occupational therapy assessment in relation to his request for a stairlift. This is because there is no sign of fault by the Council.

Dorset Council (23 009 113)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 19-Feb-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s handling of the bathroom work carried out under his disabled facilities grant application. The Council failed to communicate with Mr X while acting as his agent with the contractor. The Council will apologise and pay Mr X £100 to recognise the distress caused.

Durham County Council (23 005 304)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 01-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to recommend an installation of a driveway via a disabled facilities grant. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

London Borough of Harrow (23 005 280)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 17-Jan-2024

Summary: There was no fault in the way the Council decided what adaptations to carry out to Mr B’s property and the Council progressed matters in a timely matter. There was fault as the Council should have told Mr and Mrs B that the works to a rear gate exceeded the approved grant figure before it started the works. There was also fault in the Council’s communications once Mr and Mrs B had complained. The Council has agreed to apologise and pay a symbolic sum to reflect the distress caused by the fault.

London Borough of Harrow (23 002 634)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 15-Jan-2024

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s handling of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for her child, Child Y. There was fault in the Council’s current assessment that Child Y no longer requires the adaptation previously approved in 2021. There has also been considerable delay in the Council’s progression of Child Y’s DFG case, which has caused significant injustice to Mrs X. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mrs X and complete a new assessment.

North East Derbyshire District Council (23 012 429)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 19-Dec-2023

Summary: The Council’s failure to tell its tenants they can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant if refused an adaptation under its separate policy was fault. The Council has already identified appropriate action to remedy the injustice caused and improve its services. We have therefore completed our investigation.

London Borough of Hounslow (23 004 932)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 14-Dec-2023

Summary: Miss X complained about how the Council handled an Occupational Therapy assessment for her brother, Mr Y. The Council was at fault for failing to properly consider Mr Y’s best interests, which caused him an injustice. It was not at fault in how it handled the Occupational Therapy assessment. The Council will consider whether it needs to take action to protect Mr Y’s best interests.

Leeds City Council (23 007 256)

Statement Not upheld Disabled facilities grants 07-Dec-2023

Summary: Miss X complained the Council did not agree to her disabled facilities grant (DFG) request. She applied for a dropped kerb and to create a hardstanding at the front of her property. Miss X said this meant she could not leave her property and has lost independence. The Council was not at fault.