London Borough of Ealing (19 008 560)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 31-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complained the Council did not properly assess his application for its housing register and did not give him reasonable preference based on his health needs. We cannot investigate this late complaint. Mr X has not given the Council an opportunity to consider his complaint through its own complaints process. However, in any event, we would be unlikely to find fault and Mr X needs to be reassessed as his circumstances have changed.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (18 011 631)

Statement Upheld Allocations 30-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council handled his housing application. The Ombudsman finds the Council was at fault for delay in assessing the housing application, failing to assess medical evidence, failing to take a homeless application and failing to evidence its view that it was reasonable to expect Mr X to continue to occupy his current accommodation. The Council has now offered
Mr X accommodation which it considers ends its homeless relief duty to him. It has also agreed to assess Mr X’s medical evidence and pay him £450 to acknowledge the effect of the Council’s initial delay and the uncertainty, frustration and distress caused by its subsequent failures.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (19 009 300)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 30-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council advising a housing applicant to include his name on her housing application form. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s assessment of the application and we cannot consider Mr X’s concerns about his tenancy. This is because it involves a social housing landlord and such bodies are outside our jurisdiction.

Breckland District Council (18 017 805)

Statement Upheld Allocations 29-Oct-2019

Summary: The complainant says the Council failed to properly consider his housing application. The Council says it may have delayed consideration of the complainant’s application by up to two months, but the onus is on the applicant to provide information in support of housing need and priority. Once it had the necessary information the Council says it increased priority to the highest band. The Ombudsman finds the Council acted with fault.

London Borough of Haringey (19 007 182)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 29-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to not give medical priority to the complainant’s housing application. This is because it is unlikely he would find fault by the Council.

London Borough of Enfield (18 014 224)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 28-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to offer him a transfer to another Council property due to problems with local youths and children in his area. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint. This is because Mr X does not qualify for a transfer under the Housing Act 1996 and his complaint is about a social housing landlord which is outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

London Borough of Bromley (19 004 911)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 28-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the suitability of the complainant’s accommodation. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because there were review rights the complainant could have used.

North Kesteven District Council (19 004 872)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 25-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision on his housing application as Mr X can ask the Council to review its decision.

Westminster City Council (19 008 705)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 25-Oct-2019

Summary: We will not investigate Ms Q’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her bid for a property advertised via its choice-based lettings scheme. This is because the Council’s fault did not cause her significant injustice. And further investigation by us is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

Wiltshire Council (18 018 914)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 24-Oct-2019

Summary: Ms X complains about the way the Council dealt with allegations of anti-social behaviour against her from her neighbours. Ms X says she has not been able to bid for a property as a result of the action taken by the Council. The Ombudsman has found no fault.