Bedford Borough Council (19 010 435)

Statement Not upheld Disabled facilities grants 31-Mar-2020

Summary: the Council was not at fault when it decided not to pay a Disabled Facilities Grant because builders had completed the eligible works before Mrs X returned the grant application form.

London Borough of Hackney (19 007 469)

Statement Not upheld Disabled facilities grants 19-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to properly consider her medical needs when it processed her disabled facilities grant application. She said this caused her distress and inconvenience. There was no fault in the way the Council dealt with Mrs X’s application.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (19 018 337)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 18-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about problems with a wet room built by the Council under a Disabled Facilities Grant. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Derbyshire County Council (19 017 268)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 12-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains about the quality of work allowed by the Council when a lift was installed in her late father’s home. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint as we do not consider Mrs X has suffered a significant personal injustice. Also she can ask the courts to decide whether the builder was negligent.

Stafford Borough Council (19 017 989)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 11-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the damage to his property. This is because it is not unreasonable to expect him to go to court to seek a remedy if the matter remains unresolved.

London Borough of Havering (18 012 994)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 10-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains about the way the Council handled her Disabled Facilities Grant. She says this caused inconvenience, distress, and cost her time and trouble. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for asking Mrs X to get additional quotes from contractors on its approved list. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X and make a payment to reflect the injustice caused by the fault. The Ombudsman is satisfied with the changes the Council has already made to its policy. The Ombudsman does not uphold the rest of Mrs X’s complaint because there is no fault.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (19 007 876)

Statement Not upheld Disabled facilities grants 10-Mar-2020

Summary: the complainant says the Council failed to properly manage work covered by a disabled facilities grant, ensure the contractors completed the work in good time and to an acceptable standard. The Council says it inspected the works, issued instructions to complete snagging but delays resulted from the complainant’s illness preventing access to inspect and carry out remedial works. The Ombudsman finds the Council acted without fault.

Sunderland City Council (19 007 803)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 09-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a Disabled Facilities Grant which was awarded in 2015. This is because it is a late complaint.

Coventry City Council (19 009 816)

Statement Not upheld Disabled facilities grants 06-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms X complains that the Council refused to complete the adaptations she has needed since March 2016. She says she is unable to wash properly as she cannot access her bathroom. The Ombudsman finds no fault in the Council’s actions.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (19 004 277)

Statement Not upheld Disabled facilities grants 02-Mar-2020

Summary: there is no fault by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council in relation to the action it took to deal with Mr and Mrs D’s reports of the collapse of a decked area in the garden of their home which provides the only access to the property and the garden for their disabled son