Worthing Borough Council (19 005 309)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr E complained about the Council’s lack of action about housing disrepair issues he reported. He also complained the Council refused him discretionary housing payments and delayed dealing with his complaints. We find fault with the Council’s complaints handling. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address the injustice caused by fault.

London Borough of Bexley (20 009 744)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 29-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained about how the Council considered her homelessness application. She said it failed to investigate her history of domestic abuse properly. She also said the Council had asked her to leave her temporary accommodation despite restrictions in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We find the Council was not at fault.

Birmingham City Council (20 001 377)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 28-Jan-2021

Summary: There was fault by the Council as it delayed making a decision on an application to join the housing register. The Council has agreed to consider a new application and whether it should be backdated, to remedy the injustice from the delay. There is no fault in the Council’s actions to prevent homelessness, as Mr X found his own accommodation.

Birmingham City Council (20 006 411)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 27-Jan-2021

Summary: A woman complained the Council had not properly credited payments to accounts she holds with it. But we will not investigate this matter as there is no sign of any fault by the Council which has caused the woman a significant injustice.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (19 019 564)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 26-Jan-2021

Summary: We found fault with the care and support provided by the Council, Trust and CCG to Miss X, a vulnerable young woman with complex needs. We found this placed Miss X at significant risk in the community and caused her and her family avoidable distress. These organisations have agreed to apologise to Miss X and pay a financial remedy in recognition of the impact of this fault on her.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (19 019 214)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 14-Jan-2021

Summary: There is no fault in the way the Council dealt with Mr X’s homelessness in 2018. The Council started a new homelessness assessment in March 2020 due a change in Mr X’s housing situation and issued decisions in line with the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Code of Guidance and so there is no fault.

Birmingham City Council (20 001 560)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 14-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X complains the Council did not help him when he approached as homeless. The Council is at fault. It failed to accept relevant homeless duties, complete a Personalised Housing Plan, issue decisions, or tell Mr X about his review rights. The Council should apologise, pay Mr X £1000, and take a new homelessness application.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (19 019 908)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 14-Jan-2021

Summary: We found the Council at fault in how it responded to Mr X about his housing situation. The Council missed opportunities to try to help prevent Mr X becoming homeless, which was likely to have caused Mr X added avoidable distress. We found the Council’s offer to provide further support to Mr X to try to help him secure accommodation represented a suitable remedy for what happened.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (20 003 563)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 14-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s handling of her homelessness application. She says the Council’s only action was to ask her to look for private accommodation. Ms X says the Council should owe her the relief duty. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council’s handling of Ms X’s homelessness application. We have made recommendations.

London Borough of Hillingdon (20 002 606)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 12-Jan-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for not providing Mr X with a rent payment card, causing him to fall into arrears. The Council was also at fault for the way it ended Mr X’s temporary accommodation. The Council has agreed to remedy the injustice caused to Mr X.