Norwich City Council (20 003 597)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 29-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the condition of the Council flat he accepted in 2020 which he says is unsuitable for his family to live in. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint. This is because it concerns tenancy matters involving a social housing landlord and is outside our jurisdiction.

London Borough of Lambeth (19 019 849)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 24-Sep-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council dealt with a woman’s housing case after it became unsafe for her to stay in her property. This is mainly because we are unlikely to find sufficient evidence of fault to justify a finding against the Council.

Tendring District Council (20 002 971)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 23-Sep-2020

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

Birmingham City Council (20 003 393)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 23-Sep-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss B’s complaint about part of the Council’s review of its decision on her housing application. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in the way the Council reached its review decision and we could not achieve the outcome Miss B wants.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (19 016 818)

Statement Upheld Allocations 22-Sep-2020

Summary: Ms B complains about how the Council has dealt with her application for priority for re-housing. The Ombudsman finds there was fault in failing to refer the case back to a review panel, but that this did not cause injustice to Ms B.

Harlow District Council (20 002 231)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 22-Sep-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council will not pay him a Home Loss Payment. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the provision or management of social housing by a council acting as a registered social housing provider. Mr X also has the right to take court action and it would be reasonable for him to do this.

Leicester City Council (19 007 538)

Statement Upheld Allocations 21-Sep-2020

Summary: There was fault by the Council in cancelling a housing offer within a time extension it had granted for the family to submit further evidence. However, even without this fault the offer would have been withdrawn on other grounds. Recommendations for a remedy and service improvements are made.

London Borough of Barnet (19 002 491)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 18-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s assessment of his housing needs and adaptations to his home. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

West Berkshire Council (19 003 850)

Statement Upheld Allocations 16-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complain about the handling of an offer of housing. The information provided shows the Council and housing association did not provide clear information about an occupational therapy assessment and did not explain the property had been offered to another tenant. While it is not possible to say the faults identified resulted in Mr and Mrs X not being allocated the property, the faults caused them avoidable distress and raised their expectations.

London Borough of Bexley (19 020 702)

Statement Upheld Allocations 16-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision to refuse his request for a direct offer of accommodation. The Ombudsman has found fault by the Council in failing to offer Mr X a review of this decision, causing him injustice. It should remedy this by carrying out a review of the decision.