London Borough of Barnet (21 009 994)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 21-Mar-2022

Summary: There was fault by the Council. It failed to respond to changes in circumstances when a families housing became overcrowded. Backdating the date on which the families priority banding increased remedies this injustice. The Council also failed to offer the family temporary accommodation until over a year after the change in circumstances occurred. A payment remedies the uncertainty caused to Mr X, as it is not certain he would have accepted an earlier offer of temporary accommodation.

West Lancashire Borough Council (21 017 994)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 18-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Miss B’s complaint about the Council’s assessment of her housing application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Portsmouth City Council (21 016 849)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 18-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint which was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Mr X could not have complained to us sooner about the suitability of his accommodation. We cannot investigate the actions of his social housing landlord because it is a body outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the assessment of his housing application because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

London Borough of Lewisham (21 017 503)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 18-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to take action over Ms X’s claims of harassment from her landlord. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Elmbridge Borough Council (21 017 582)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-Mar-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the management of a housing association tenancy. It lies outside our legal remit.

London Borough of Southwark (21 008 604)

Statement Upheld Allocations 18-Mar-2022

Summary: Miss X complained the Council has failed to assist or support her in finding suitable accommodation. She also complains there were delays and errors in the way the Council dealt with her application to join the housing register. The delays and failings in the way the Council has dealt with Miss X’s application to join the housing register and her requests for assistance amount to fault. This fault has caused Miss X an injustice.

Broxtowe Borough Council (21 016 217)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Managing council tenancies 17-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about rent arrears for a garage. This is because it is a late complaint and because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Haringey (21 018 197)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 17-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complains the Council has unreasonably failed to accept a housing duty in his case by failing to consider his medical evidence properly. We will not investigate this matter because it was reasonable to expect Mr X use his legal right to appeal to court.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (21 015 193)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 17-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the process for offering a new home to the complainant. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and we could not achieve the outcome the complainant would like.

Herefordshire Council (21 017 357)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 17-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the operation of the Council’s housing allocations policy. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.