London Borough of Barnet (19 005 727)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Feb-2020

Summary: Miss Y complained the Council failed to properly review whether her temporary accommodation was suitable for her and her family to live in and failed to properly deal with a cockroach infestation within the block of flats in which she lives. There was fault in the Council’s decision-making process. The Council has agreed to apologise, move Miss Y to alternative accommodation as part of an estate regeneration plan and pay her £150 to remedy the uncertainty caused.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (19 007 546)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 18-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr C complains the Council did not deal properly with his housing application. The Council was not at fault.

London Borough of Camden (19 016 483)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 18-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s Environmental Health Team. This is because the complaint is late and there is not enough evidence of fault causing injustice. It is unlikely we could add anything to the Council’s response.

Braintree District Council (19 014 986)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman does not have reason to start an investigation of this complaint that the Council had not given a homeless man enough help in finding housing. This is because the man has now been offered suitable accommodation, and it is unlikely we could achieve a better outcome for him than this.

Nottingham City Council (19 016 165)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 18-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the Council has not provided the complainant with suitable accommodation. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Adur District Council (19 016 186)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Dr X’s complaint about problems with anti-social behaviour she says are due to a damaged and inadequate fence close to her home. This is because we have no powers to consider complaints about a council when it is acting as a landlord.

South Cambridgeshire District Council (18 007 828)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 17-Feb-2020

Summary: There was fault when the Council disposed of personal belongings Mr X left in interim accommodation he occupied when he was homeless. This caused a significant injustice to Mr X. The Council has agreed to provide a suitable remedy.

Allerdale Borough Council (19 007 434)

Statement Upheld Private housing 17-Feb-2020

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s delay responding to reports of disrepair and an illegal eviction notice. The Council was at fault for the delay in responding to Ms X’s request for a property inspection, and for failing to refer details of the alleged illegal eviction notice to its housing team. This caused Ms X additional avoidable distress, frustration, and time and trouble.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (19 014 074)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 17-Feb-2020

Summary: A housing applicant complained that the Council unreasonably withdrew an offer of accommodation which he wanted, and then offered another property which was not suitable for his family’s needs. But the Ombudsman will not investigate this matter. This is because the applicant had a statutory right of appeal he could have used to challenge the Council’s decision about the suitability of the second property. In addition, there is no sign that any other fault by the Council caused him an injustice to warrant our involvement.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council (19 016 106)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council house sales and leaseholders 17-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his right to buy application. This is because it is reasonable for Mr X to issue statutory notices of delay or to take the matter to court.