London Borough of Tower Hamlets (20 006 516)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council house sales and leaseholders 26-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of his Right to Buy application. We will not investigate the complaint because Mr X had an alternative remedy against the Council through the courts which we would reasonably have expected him to have used.

London Borough of Lambeth (20 006 282)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 25-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms B complained about how the Council dealt with her application for housing. After making her complaint she found suitable accommodation. She therefore withdrew her complaint and we discontinued our investigation at her request.

London Borough of Hackney (20 002 692)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 24-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the service the Council’s temporary accommodation team provided. This is because it was not unreasonable to expect Mr B to appeal to the county court if he wished to challenge the Council’s decision on the suitability of his temporary accommodation and it is not unreasonable to expect him to pursue his claim for compensation through the courts.

Brentwood Borough Council (20 002 688)

Statement Upheld Private housing 23-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X is a landlord who complained that the Council failed to consider statutory guidance when it advised his tenants to remain in his property after the Court made a Possession Order. He says this led to further loss of rental income, additional Court costs and time and trouble. We found the Council was at fault and this caused injustice to Mr X. The Council has agreed to provide a suitable remedy.

London Borough of Havering (20 010 470)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 23-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s breach of a private contract when it returned her property with outstanding damage from the previous tenants. We should not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint. This is because the complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for considering complaints and it was reasonable for her to take court action over the contractual breach.

Medway Council (20 004 585)

Report Upheld Homelessness 23-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms E complained about the way the Council dealt with her homelessness.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (19 011 780)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 22-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms X complains the Council took too long to complete a review of its homelessness decision, provided accommodation in a poor condition, and refused to help meet the costs of storage. There is some fault by the Council. The Council should apologise and make a financial payment to Ms X to remedy the injustice caused.

London Borough of Hounslow (20 001 720)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 22-Feb-2021

Summary: It is likely, on the balance of probabilities, the private rental property offered to Miss X on a direct let scheme complied with the scheme’s requirements. There was fault, as the Council failed to refer complaints about the landlord not repairing windows and the boiler to the housing enforcement team quickly. The Council has already offered Miss X a Council tenancy to a new property, with a furniture pack which is a satisfactory remedy to complaints about draughts from the window and a lack of heating for 2 months.

Birmingham City Council (20 010 436)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 22-Feb-2021

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

Southend-on-Sea City Council (20 000 366)

Statement Upheld Allocations 18-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s handling of her application to join the housing register. She says the Council ignored medical evidence and disrepair issues of damp and mould. She also says the Council delayed in accepting her onto the register. We find fault with the Council for not properly considering Mrs X’s medical evidence. This caused a delay in her being accepted onto the register. We also find fault with the Council’s complaint handling. We have made recommendations.