London Borough of Lambeth (19 003 734)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 13-Jan-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s assessment of her housing application. She says she has been on the waiting list for over three years and has not received any suitable offers. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Harrogate Borough Council (19 006 619)

Statement Not upheld Other 13-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr B complains about the Council’s consideration of a planning application for the development of a house close to the rear boundary of his property. There was no fault in the Council’s consideration.

Luton Borough Council (18 014 831)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 13-Jan-2020

Summary: there was fault in the way the Council handled Miss X’s move to new temporary accommodation. There is no evidence that an officer told Miss X she could apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment when she asked for assistance with removal costs. The Council also took too long to deliver a mattress to the property. The Council has agreed to provide a suitable remedy for the injustice caused to Miss X.

Dacorum Borough Council (19 013 209)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 10-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss B’s complaint that the Council allocated an unsuitable property to her and its tenancy sustainment team and its housing service failed to resolve the issues she raised. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about social housing tenancy management and I have decided not to exercise discretion to investigate her late housing allocation complaint.

London Borough of Southwark (19 014 572)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 10-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman does not have grounds to investigate this complaint that the Council unreasonably ended its homelessness duty in a woman’s case after she refused an offer of accommodation. This is because the woman had a statutory right of appeal she could have used to challenge the Council’s decision and, anyway, there is no sign of fault in the way it dealt with her housing case.

London Borough of Hillingdon (19 002 115)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 10-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr A, an advisor has submitted a complaint on behalf of Mr X about the Council’s refusal to allow Mr X to join the housing register. The information shows a referral must be made for consideration under the supported accommodation move-on criteria to be considered. Mr A has not made a referral and so there is no fault by the Council. Mr A could now make a referral on behalf of Mr X.

London Borough of Newham (19 002 939)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 10-Jan-2020

Summary: the Council failed to assess the condition of interim accommodation it provided to Miss C when she raised concerns about the state of the property, failed to consider her income when advising her what to pay towards her rent and delayed amending the rent charge and housing benefit award to reflect Miss C’s partner leaving the household. That impacted on Miss C’s finances, caused her to have to live with repair issues for 11 months longer than she should have and led to her going to time and trouble to pursue her complaint. An apology, payment to Miss C and agreement to monitor the progress of the repairs is satisfactory remedy for the injustice caused.

London Borough of Sutton (19 007 837)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 10-Jan-2020

Summary: Miss B complained the Council failed to take action on her concerns about the suitability of interim accommodation, withdrew two offers of accommodation, left her with no option but to return to her original property which is unsafe, failed to provide interim accommodation when she re-presented as homeless in 2019 and has taken no action to process her 2019 homeless application. There is no evidence of fault by the Council.

Leeds City Council (19 016 769)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 09-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council caused damage to his house when it carried out repairs to the neighbouring property which is Council owned. The Ombudsman cannot investigate as he has no legal remit to investigate the Council’s management of its social housing.

Manchester City Council (18 019 076)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 08-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr Y complained the Council failed to properly assess his housing register application. The Council was not at fault in its assessment of Mr Y’s housing register application.