Eastleigh Borough Council (19 017 155)

Statement Upheld Allocations 10-Feb-2021

Summary: Miss X complains the Council failed to consider properly her banding review request and awarded her the incorrect priority banding. Miss X says this meant she was living in unsuitable accommodation with her family, which has caused her distress and affected her mental health. The Ombudsman finds fault in the way the Council explained its decision to Miss X, and for failing to properly assess her banding priority on health and welfare grounds. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise and make Miss X a payment for the distress and uncertainty caused.

Wycombe District Council (19 006 212)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 09-Feb-2021

Summary: There is no fault with the Council’s assessment of Ms B’s housing priority. Ms B has enough priority to enable her to be first on the short list for most suitable properties. However, the Council cannot give her priority for the housing areas she would prefer to live in as they are in another Council’s area. The Council has made Ms B aware of the options available to her, including offering three properties it considers suitable.

Birmingham City Council (20 006 405)

Statement Upheld Allocations 09-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained the Council wrongly determined they do not qualify for the housing register and refused to consider their review request. The Council’s failure to properly assess Mr and Mrs X’s application to join the housing register amounts to fault. The Council has taken action to redress any injustice this caused.

Worthing Borough Council (20 006 170)

Statement Upheld Allocations 08-Feb-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for how it dealt with Miss B’s housing application. Its register allows people to move into its area if they have a need to move, such as unsuitable accommodation or the need to receive family support. These were the reasons Miss B gave in her application, but the Council did not properly consider her circumstances. It has agreed to make a new decision.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council (19 013 079)

Statement Upheld Allocations 03-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs X and Miss Y complained about the Council’s failure to address their housing situation. We find the Council was at fault by not properly considering their request to be given higher priority for social housing. This caused frustration and distress. To remedy this injustice, the Council has agreed apologise and make a payment to Mrs X and Miss Y. We have not found fault with the other matters complained about.

Westminster City Council (20 002 700)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 03-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms Q has complained about the suitability of her temporary Council accommodation and has requested an accommodation transfer and a refund of her service charges. She says the matters are impacting adversely on her wellbeing. However, the Ombudsman will not investigate this matter as Ms Q has a legal right of an internal review by the Council. As regards to Ms Q’s transfer request, the Council has applied its allocations policy and the Ombudsman has not identified fault in this respect.

Birmingham City Council (20 009 800)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 03-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to exclude him from the housing register. We should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Sutton (20 007 593)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 01-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s position on the housing register. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (20 004 236)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 28-Jan-2021

Summary: Miss B complains the Council failed to help her move to alternative social housing because of overcrowding and safety concerns. We do not find fault with the Council.

London Borough of Islington (19 020 427)

Statement Upheld Allocations 27-Jan-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault by the Council on Ms L’s complaint about it failing to properly consider her application to join its housing register. It failed to properly consider eligibility for overcrowding points, delayed an investigation, failed to provide updates, and delayed making a referral for an occupational therapist to assess her son’s needs. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.