London Borough of Hounslow (20 001 720)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 22-Feb-2021

Summary: It is likely, on the balance of probabilities, the private rental property offered to Miss X on a direct let scheme complied with the scheme’s requirements. There was fault, as the Council failed to refer complaints about the landlord not repairing windows and the boiler to the housing enforcement team quickly. The Council has already offered Miss X a Council tenancy to a new property, with a furniture pack which is a satisfactory remedy to complaints about draughts from the window and a lack of heating for 2 months.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (19 011 780)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 22-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms X complains the Council took too long to complete a review of its homelessness decision, provided accommodation in a poor condition, and refused to help meet the costs of storage. There is some fault by the Council. The Council should apologise and make a financial payment to Ms X to remedy the injustice caused.

Warwick District Council (20 003 929)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 18-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr B complained the Council did not provide suitable interim accommodation when he and his family presented as homeless. Mr B said his family were having to live in a caravan. We have not found fault with the Council.

Milton Keynes Council (19 014 011)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 17-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms X complains the Council did not give her proper assistance when she approached as homeless. The Council failed to take an application at the earliest opportunity, did not issue decision letters or a personalised housing plan, and failed to consider the suitability of interim accommodation. These faults caused Ms X injustice. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a financial payment to Ms X, and take action to improve its service.

Exeter City Council (20 009 282)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 12-Feb-2021

Summary: We shall not investigate Miss X’s complaint about what happened when she was homeless. The complaint is late without strong enough reason to investigate it now.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (19 020 804)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 11-Feb-2021

Summary: Miss B complains about the way the Council dealt with her homelessness application and her concerns about the suitability of the accommodation it provided. The Ombudsman has not found fault in the Council’s actions except some delay and procedural failings in the handling of Miss B’s homelessness application. We do not consider that this fault has caused injustice for which we would seek a personal remedy but have made recommendations as to the Council’s future practices, which the Council has agreed.

London Borough of Redbridge (18 000 313)

Report Upheld Homelessness 02-Dec-2020

Summary: Ms X complains via a representative that the Council wrongly left her family in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than a year and wrongly blamed her for failing to co-operate in resolving her situation. The Council failed to refer the matter to its homelessness team, and it did not assess Ms X, or provide her with suitable accommodation while this should have been happening, nor give her a written decision and opportunity to appeal. We find it more likely than not, given the Council had sought to persuade the borough from which Ms X had moved that she was not intentionally homeless, it would have reached the same view if it had acted properly. This caused injustice to Ms X and her children in having to live in unsuitable accommodation for more than a year. However, had Ms X been intentionally homeless, the Council might have been able without fault to place the family in the same bed and breakfast accommodation under the terms of the Children Act 1989, subject only to regular review of the children’s needs. This Act does not have the same focus regarding accommodation as housing legislation. We have therefore issued this report because of the potential for conflict between housing and social care duties, which may lead to perverse outcomes for children in need in other cases.

London Borough of Wandsworth (19 006 011)

Report Upheld Homelessness 18-Nov-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council had not dealt with her homeless application, helped her as a victim of domestic violence or registered her on its allocation scheme.

London Borough of Merton (18 019 031)

Report Upheld Homelessness 07-Aug-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council placed him in temporary accommodation outside its area when he became homeless. Mr X says this meant he had to give up one of  his jobs as he was unable to travel back to the area for work.

London Borough of Haringey (19 014 008)

Report Upheld Homelessness 25-Jun-2020

Summary: Ms B complains about the way the Council responded to her request for housing.