London Borough of Sutton (18 012 322)

Statement Upheld Allocations 20-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault on Mrs T’s complaint about the Council failing to properly assesses her housing transfer application. It failed to properly consider whether she was housebound under its policy and nor did it give reasons for decisions. The agreed action remedies the avoidable injustice caused. The Ombudsman found no fault on her complaint about it failing to tell her of a suitable property. The landlord had a restriction about pets and Mrs T stated on her application she would not make alternative arrangements for her dog.

London Borough of Havering (19 008 110)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 20-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council failed to consider all the relevant information when reaching its decision to decline his application to join the Housing Register. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 010 253)

Statement Upheld Allocations 20-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the handling of the complainant’s housing register and homelessness applications. This is because the Council has already provided a fair remedy and because there were review rights the complainant could have used.

Westminster City Council (19 000 158)

Statement Upheld Allocations 18-Nov-2019

Summary: Ms B complains about how the Council dealt with her niece’s temporary housing needs as a homeless person with young children. The Ombudsman finds that while there was no fault in the substantive issue of the accommodation offered and the reviews of suitability conducted, there were several other failings in the Council’s handling of this case and the complaint about it. The Council has agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommendation for remedy for the injustice caused to Ms B and her niece by these failings.

London Borough of Brent (19 002 229)

Statement Upheld Allocations 14-Nov-2019

Summary: The Council has no evidence it considered medical evidence provided by a housing applicant in support of his request for the Council to allow him to bid for three-bedroom properties. The Council failed to review its decision despite requests by the applicant, a Councillor and an MP. The Council has caused serious unavoidable frustration, distress and time and trouble for the applicant. The Council will apologise to the applicant, carry out a proper review and make a payment to him for the injustice it caused.

Adur District Council (19 010 281)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 14-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the housing register because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Birmingham City Council (19 009 295)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 12-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s priority on the housing register. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (19 002 654)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 08-Nov-2019

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s refusal to allow her onto its housing register because she is an owner-occupier. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council which would warrant an investigation.

Broadland District Council (19 009 745)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 07-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the priority the Council gave the complainant’s housing register application. This is because the complaint has now been resolved.

Watford Borough Council (19 009 831)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 07-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms B’s complaint about the housing priority the Council has awarded her family. Further consideration of the complaint is unlikely to find fault with the way the Council made its decision.