London Borough of Ealing (18 017 160)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 14-Oct-2019

Summary: Ms X complains the Council delayed in offering alternative housing which she required on personal safety grounds. While it could be argued it took longer than it should have for Ms X to move to a new property, this is not due to fault by the Council. Ms X’s actions, in requesting consideration of a move to a three bedroom property was the reason for it taking longer.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (19 008 629)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 14-Oct-2019

Summary: Miss X complained about delay in the Council’s response to her appeal against an assessment of her housing application. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Southwark (19 007 869)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 14-Oct-2019

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s refusal to add her brother to her council tenancy. She also complained about disrepair and asbestos in her home since 2014. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint. This is because the complaint concerns tenancy matters involving a social housing landlord and is outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

London Borough of Croydon (18 003 589)

Statement Upheld Allocations 11-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to carry out three suitability review requests and notify him of the decision. The evidence shows the carried out two reviews. One decision was sent to Mr X’s solicitors and the other decision was sent but not received. There failure to complete one review and delays in respect of the other two are fault. The evidence does not support Mr X’s claim that he was unable to bid because of the fault in these cases.

London Borough of Bromley (18 018 813)

Statement Upheld Allocations 11-Oct-2019

Summary: Miss D complains the Council placed her in unsuitable interim accommodation, delayed dealing with her homelessness application, and failed to offer her suitable temporary accommodation. The Ombudsman has found fault. The Council had already agreed to make Miss D a direct offer of accommodation.

Daventry District Council (18 008 970)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 10-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complain the Council poorly handled their application to move house when they were suffering alleged anti-social behaviour from their neighbours. We do not find the Council at fault.

London Borough of Newham (18 018 361)

Statement Upheld Allocations 10-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council dealt with his request to be rehoused to a larger property. The Ombudsman has found the Council to be at fault because it did not properly consider his request for additional priority on medical and other grounds. It failed to consider whether Mr X was owed any duty under the homelessness legislation. It also took too long to deal with his complaint about this. These faults caused both frustration and uncertainty. To remedy this injustice, The Council has agreed with the Ombudsman’s recommendation to apologise, make a payment to Mr X, reconsider his application properly and review its allocations policy.

London Borough of Camden (18 019 254)

Statement Upheld Allocations 09-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr B complains the council did not assess his priority for housing correctly. Mr B says the Council did not award him enough harassment and violence priority points. The Ombudsman has found fault with the Council causing injustice. The Council has agreed to take action to remedy this injustice.

London Borough of Ealing (18 019 896)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 09-Oct-2019

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s failure to offer her a social housing home since she first applied for housing in 2006. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part which would warrant an investigation.

Brighton & Hove City Council (19 007 113)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 09-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision that the complainant cannot join the housing register because he does not have a local connection. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.