London Borough of Waltham Forest (21 017 775)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 25-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate Ms X’s complaint about a housing transfer in 2016. This was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Ms X could not have complained to us sooner. We will not investigate the assessment of Ms X’s current housing application because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Birmingham City Council (20 011 188)

Statement Upheld Allocations 25-Mar-2022

Summary: The Council has failed in its statutory duty to ensure the accommodation it provides for Mrs B’s household is suitable. The Council also failed to properly consider whether Mrs B’s son needed his own room for medical reasons and fettered its discretion when it decided not to allow Mrs B to bid on smaller properties. The Council also delayed reviewing the suitability of Mrs B’s accommodation, delayed reviewing Mrs B’s housing priority and delayed dealing with her complaints. The Council has agreed to make a payment to Mrs B, offer Mrs B suitable temporary accommodation, consider allowing Mrs B to bid on smaller properties and to take action to prevent similar failings in future.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (21 002 904)

Statement Upheld Allocations 25-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr C complains the Council failed to respond to his housing register application in a timely manner. He complains the Council failed to fully consider whether he should be awarded priority on medical or overcrowded grounds. We find the Council at fault. This caused Mr C distress and uncertainty. To remedy the injustice, the Council has agreed to apologise to Mr C, make him a payment and review its decision. The Council has also agreed to make several service improvements.

Broxbourne Borough Council (21 016 129)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 24-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Mr Y’s housing application. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify further investigation.

London Borough of Barnet (21 012 763)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 24-Mar-2022

Summary: The Council was at fault for the way it dealt with Ms X’s homelessness review. As a result Ms X had to wait longer for decision. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X and make a payment to Ms X.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (21 014 306)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 24-Mar-2022

Summary: A tenant complained about the way the Council handled her application for a transfer to another property. But there is not enough evidence that fault by the Council in this respect has caused the tenant a significant injustice. Therefore, we will not investigate the complaint.

London Borough of Haringey (21 016 793)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 24-Mar-2022

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

London Borough of Harrow (21 017 072)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Managing council tenancies 24-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s management of communal areas in the building where Miss X lives. This is because Miss X is a Council tenant and we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing.

Central Bedfordshire Council (21 008 580)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 23-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr B complained about the way the Council considered his request to join the housing register. He considered the Council’s refusal to allow him to apply for a larger property meant he could not progress with his plans to foster children. There was no fault by the Council

Wiltshire Council (21 009 699)

Statement Upheld Allocations 23-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms M complains, on behalf of three young adults, the Council gave them misleading advice about applying for social housing. The Council was at fault as it failed to manage their expectations about the likely success of their application given restrictions imposed by local housing providers. It failed to proactively address why they were not being considered for properties and to ensure they understood this. The Council has agreed to make a payment to remedy the distress and frustration this caused them. It has also agreed to review its procedures to be clearer about the likely success of applications from unrelated adults.