London Borough of Brent (20 003 501)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 02-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to issue a review decision on its homeless decision that he was not in priority need. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault causing injustice to Mr X which would warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Bromley (19 017 250)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 30-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr Y complains about the Council’s decision to place him in a nursing home after his release from prison in 2018. The Ombudsman will not investigate this part of Mr Y’s complaint because he did not make a complaint within 12 months of the decision to place him there. However, the Council delayed in issuing invoices for Mr Y’s care charges and we find this caused some distress which it will apologise for. There is no evidence of fault in the complaint about the storage of Mr Y’s belongings.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (19 015 973)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 26-Oct-2020

Summary: There is fault in how the Council handled Miss B’s housing situation. Its file recordings were not always accurate, it took too long to agree a personal housing plan, and gave her incorrect information. The Council caused Miss B uncertainty and distress, and cannot say whether it would have offered her housing sooner had it acted without fault. The Council has agreed it will apologise to Miss B, pay her £250 in recognition of the distress it has caused her, and share this decision with its staff.

London Borough of Newham (19 017 181)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 22-Oct-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the temporary accommodation she is living in is unsuitable due to being overcrowded and in a state of disrepair. The Council accepted the accommodation was unsuitable in June 2019 due to overcrowding but has failed to provide alternative accommodation which is fault. It has also delayed in carrying out repairs at the property.

Brighton & Hove City Council (19 012 779)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 22-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr C complains about various issues relating to his temporary accommodation. Mr C says he lived in unsuitable accommodation for longer than necessary and did not receive the support he needed which was harmful to his mental and physical health The Ombudsman found fault by the Council but considered the actions it had already taken of an apology and payment were enough with the agreed actions of improvements to its procedures and staff training provided a suitable remedy.

London Borough of Lewisham (19 018 753)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 21-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council refused to house his family and failed to issue a formal decision not to house them. The Ombudsman upholds part of Mr X’s complaint. There was no fault in the Council’s decision not to house the family, but the Council failed to issue a formal decision or advise Mr X of his review rights. It will now do so.

London Borough of Enfield (19 015 050)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 20-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council did not properly assess his housing needs when he was threatened with homelessness and later became homeless. We found fault in the Council’s housing assessment and in the way it carried out the homelessness prevention and relief duties. These faults caused injustice to Mr X. The Council will apologise and make a payment to Mr X for the lost opportunity to challenge its decisions. It will also invite him to an interview to assess his current housing needs and then decide what further duties, if any, it owes him.

London Borough of Southwark (19 017 593)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 19-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr B complained about the way the Council dealt with his homeless application since September 2018. On the evidence available we find fault by the Council which may have affected Mr B’s chances of finding suitable accommodation. The Council has agreed to invite a fresh homeless application from Mr B and pay him £500.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (20 003 806)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 16-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman has discontinued the investigation into Ms X complaint about the Council’s decision not to take a homeless application from her. This is because the Council has now taken a homeless application from Ms X and agreed to update policies and procedures.

London Borough of Barnet (20 003 232)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 08-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms B’s complaint about the problems she is experiencing in her temporary accommodation. This is because another local authority is best placed to consider the matter.