Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (19 013 703)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 21-Dec-2020

Summary: Miss Y complains the Council did not provide her with suitable accommodation when she became homeless. The Ombudsman has found fault by the Council causing injustice. The Council has agreed to remedy this by apologising and paying Miss Y £1,750 to reflect the avoidable distress, time and trouble its faults caused her.

London Borough of Hillingdon (19 020 660)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 21-Dec-2020

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to consider her and her daughter, Y’s medical needs when it placed her in her current housing band. She also complained the Council would not accept that she has lived in its borough for over 10 years. Ms X said this has caused her and Y distress and inconvenience. There was no fault in the Council’s management of Ms X’s housing banding.

Milton Keynes Council (20 004 113)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 21-Dec-2020

Summary: There was fault by the Council in how it dealt with Miss B’s housing situation and in the social worker’s assessment of the needs of the family. The Council was not clear about whether it had decided it owed a homelessness duty to her. There were confusing entries in the Council’s Child and Family Assessment, and the Council did not send a copy of this to Miss B until she asked for it. The shortcomings caused Miss B distress and frustration. The Council should apologise to her, amend its records, and share this decision with relevant staff.

London Borough of Islington (20 008 219)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Dec-2020

Summary: We have no jurisdiction to investigate this complaint about the management of parking on a Council housing estate.

London Borough of Redbridge (19 015 800)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 18-Dec-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has not considered her medical condition as part of her housing application and that she is overcrowded. There is no evidence to suggest the Council has placed Mrs X in the wrong priority band or that it has not considered her medical evidence. The Council has suggested Mrs X should get an occupational therapy assessment.

Birmingham City Council (20 003 201)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 18-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X’s representative complained the Council did not handle properly Mr X’s application to join the housing register. We should not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (19 012 606)

Statement Upheld Other 18-Dec-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s decision to not backdate her food allowance payments. The Council was at fault for failing to make sure residents were aware of the food payments. This resulted in Ms X not applying for the food payment until she was told by the Council, causing her to miss out on a backdated claim. The Council has agreed to backdate her food payments to remedy the injustice caused.

Birmingham City Council (20 007 281)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 18-Dec-2020

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s decision to remove her application from the housing register because she did not meet the 12-month residency requirements in its allocations procedure. We should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Wandsworth (19 016 712)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 17-Dec-2020

Summary: The Council is not at fault for failing to make an offer of housing. It has followed its policy and given the application a high priority. It has not made an offer due to the shortage of accommodation.

Leicester City Council (19 018 397)

Statement Upheld Allocations 17-Dec-2020

Summary: The Council failed to issue the correct decisions about Mrs X’s homelessness on time and did not consider the affordability of interim accommodation. There is no fault in how the Council handled her application for social housing. The Council should apologise, pay Mrs X £1400, and issue new decisions.