Nottingham City Council (23 015 348)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 21-Jul-2024

Summary: The Council took too long to decide on Ms X’s application for disabled adaptations to her Council tenancy. The Council failed to include Ms X in its consideration of the possible options, wrongly refused some works because it decided others were infeasible, and included irrelevant factors in its decision making. The Council has agreed to apologise, start the works to provide a step-lift, discuss other adaptations options with Ms X, make a new decision, and make a payment to Ms X. It should also act to improve its services.

Peterborough City Council (23 015 951)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 21-Jul-2024

Summary: Mrs X complains the works the Council funded with a disabled facilities grant did not meet her family’s needs, and they had to live in the property for several months while remedial works were carried out. The work carried out was defective and it took too long to put it right. This caused significant distress to Mrs X. The Council needs to apologise and make a symbolic payment to her.

Mid Sussex District Council (24 000 715)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 15-Jul-2024

Summary: Mrs F complained that both Councils failed to agree adaptations to the family home needed by her husband and children. We upheld the complaint, finding both Councils acted with fault contributing to an impasse where no application for grant funding had been made. This caused distress. The Councils accepted our findings and at this statement, we set out the action they have agreed to take to remedy this injustice and improve services.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (23 020 380)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 15-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about how the Council responded to her request for a disabled facilities grant. The Council has already apologised for incorrect advice it provided in a telephone call. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. There is also not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision Miss X is not eligible for the grant to justify our involvement.

Birmingham City Council (23 016 117)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 15-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal of a disabled facilities grant for an adaptation to Mr X’s property to meet the needs of his children. There is not enough evidence of fault in the way the Council reached the decision to warrant our further involvement.

West Sussex County Council (23 013 322)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 15-Jul-2024

Summary: Mrs F complained that both Councils failed to agree adaptations to the family home needed by her husband and children. We upheld the complaint, finding both Councils acted with fault contributing to an impasse where no application for grant funding had been made. This caused distress. The Councils accepted our findings and at this statement, we set out the action they have agreed to take to remedy this injustice and improve services.

City of Wolverhampton Council (24 002 541)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 07-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the outcome of a disabled facilities grant application. There is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council made its decision to justify our involvement.

London Borough of Islington (23 010 788)

Statement Not upheld Disabled facilities grants 02-Jul-2024

Summary: Mr X complains about how the Council handled an application for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DGF) for home adaptations for his son, Y. We have concluded our investigation having not made a finding of fault. The evidence demonstrates the Council followed the correct process when assessing Mr X’s application for a DFG. An Occupational Therapist visited Mr X’s home to conduct an assessment on two occasions and reached a professional judgment regarding the adaptations required which were completed. It is not for our service to intervene to offer a different view, nor can we criticise decisions made properly.

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (23 005 007)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 30-Jun-2024

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s actions when she wanted to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant for her parents, Mr and Mrs Y. She also complained that the Council took too long to make payments when it had agreed to fund construction works. We found fault because the Council gave Miss X incorrect advice and closed Mrs Y’s case when it should not have done. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X and Mrs Y, make payments to them and review some of its policies and procedures.

London Borough of Camden (23 017 852)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 26-Jun-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about disrepair in her home. That is because we cannot investigate the Council where it is acting as a social landlord. We will not investigate her complaint that her mother cannot safely access the garden. The Council has agreed to progress the access issues through a Disabled Facilities Grant. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.