London Borough of Lambeth (22 016 465)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 29-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the suitability of Council’s provision of temporary accommodation. It is reasonable for Miss X to challenge the decision on suitability in the County Court.

London Borough of Barnet (22 005 839)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Mar-2023

Summary: The Council’s failure to consider the impact on a particular group of homeless applicants of its policy to award households in long-term temporary accommodation the lowest priority for housing was fault. This has resulted in a situation where such applicants neither have a realistic prospect of securing social housing nor receive active support from the Council to end their homelessness another way. They have therefore been homeless for over a decade. The Council has agreed to review its allocations scheme and take action to improve its service to this group of homeless people.

Liverpool City Council (22 008 745)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 28-Mar-2023

Summary: Mr X complains the Council refused to accept his homelessness applications when he was fleeing domestic abuse. This meant he missed out on being temporarily housed and was left at risk. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for is handling of Mr X’s homelessness applications. However, the remedy provided by the Council is in line with the Ombudsman’s guidance on remedies.

Westminster City Council (22 011 515)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 28-Mar-2023

Summary: The Council was at fault for the way it handled Mr X’s homelessness application. This caused injustice as Mr X should have received suitable accommodation much sooner than he did. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr X, make a payment to him and carry out some service improvements.

Trafford Council (22 017 752)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 28-Mar-2023

Summary: A woman complained about the Council’s review decision regarding the suitability of accommodation it offered her under the main homelessness duty. But we will not investigate this complaint because the woman has a right of appeal to court if she considers the review decision is legally flawed and, anyway, we cannot provide the outcome she is seeking.

London Borough of Camden (22 016 137)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 27-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a request to turn temporary accommodation into a social housing tenancy. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation. We will not investigate a complaint about the Council’s rejection of a claim for personal injury due to negligence. Only the courts can determine liability for claims if they have been rejected by insurers.

London Borough of Newham (22 006 971)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 27-Mar-2023

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council dealt with his family’s housing situation following their move to temporary accommodation in February 2018. He said the Council did not advise him that he needed to apply to the housing register. And that it did not properly consider how many people are living in the property because it did not record the details of the birth of his second child. He said the property is unsuitable for them and they have not been considered for permanent housing, or more suitable temporary accommodation. He has also complained about the condition of the property. He said that as a result the family have lived in unsuitable accommodation for longer than they should. There was fault by the Council which caused injustice to Mr X. The Council will make a payment to remedy the injustice and apologise.

Salford City Council (22 016 639)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 24-Mar-2023

Summary: A woman complained about the Council’s failure to help her with housing despite her continuing homelessness. But we will not investigate the complaint because there is insufficient sign of fault in the way the Council has dealt with the woman’s housing case.

London Borough of Wandsworth (22 001 927)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 22-Mar-2023

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of his homelessness application. The Council has accepted it failed to accept the relief duty when Mr X sent evidence of a court order for possession of his private rented accommodation. We find the Council failed to arrange interim accommodation for Mr X while it owed him the relief duty; delayed making storage arrangements for Mr X’s belongings ahead of his eviction; and failed to consider what reasonable adjustments could be made to accommodate his disabilities when communicating technical information to him, including about its housing register process. We find the Council failed to provide Mr X with a response to his request for housing benefit to support his hotel costs when homeless. The fault by the Council caused Mr X significant injustice, including missing out on suitable accommodation for over five months. To remedy this, the Council has offered to apologise to Mr X and make him a payment. It has also agreed to reimburse Mr X the hotel costs he paid and put any agreed reasonable adjustments in place then invite a housing register application from Mr X. The Council has agreed to make several service improvements.

Derby City Council (22 010 821)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 22-Mar-2023

Summary: Ms X complained the Council did not act to relieve her homelessness, causing distress and leaving her and her child without secure accommodation. We found the Council at fault. We recommended it provides Ms X with an apology, considers making reasonable adjustments, offers interim accommodation, decides whether it owes the main housing duty, pays £2000 for the lack of accommodation to date and pays £500 for distress. Further, that it acts to prevent recurrence.