London Borough of Croydon (23 015 996)

Report Upheld Homelessness 27-Jun-2025

Summary: Ms X complained about how the Council responded to her brother Mr Y’s homelessness applications in 2023. We found several faults. There were months of delays by the Council and basic administrative errors. The Council repeatedly failed to respond correctly to Mr Y’s attempts to access support from its housing service. This meant that instead of being housed by the Council, Mr Y had to live with another of his sisters, Ms Z, despite her being seriously unwell and despite the impact of his mental health needs on their wellbeing. The faults caused Mr Y, Ms X and Ms Z significant stress and upset.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (24 000 033)

Report Upheld Homelessness 09-Jun-2025

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council failed to provide sufficient support when he became homeless due to domestic abuse. Mr X considers the Council’s actions show it discriminated against him as he was not treated the same way as a woman fleeing domestic abuse. Mr X also considers the Council’s actions have caused the loss of his belongings, caused significant distress and put him at risk of harm and abuse.

London Borough of Hackney (24 002 630)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 03-Jun-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide her with suitable temporary accommodation. She said this impacted her mental health. The Council was at fault. Miss X and her family lived in unsuitable accommodation for nine months. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a financial payment.

London Borough of Brent (24 015 584)

Statement Not upheld Allocations 03-Jun-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council wrongly removed him from its housing register. We ended our investigation because the Council has reinstated Mr X on its housing register and further investigation could not achieve a different outcome.

Sheffield City Council (24 017 817)

Statement Upheld Allocations 03-Jun-2025

Summary: We have upheld Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to reduce her priority band on its housing register. We asked the Council to remedy the distress and uncertainty caused and it agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (24 022 293)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 03-Jun-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to pass on a social housing tenancy to Mr W and its later related decision to remove discretionary additional priority. We cannot investigate complaints about the management of tenancies by social housing landlords.

London Borough of Brent (24 020 137)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 02-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s lack of support when Ms X became homeless, which meant she stayed longer than she should in accommodation she could not afford and was evicted by her landlord. We asked the Council to remedy the injustice caused by its delay in arranging alternative accommodation and it has agreed apologise and to make a payment to Ms X.

London Borough of Bexley (24 021 680)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 02-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s assessment of her housing application. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (24 021 808)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 02-Jun-2025

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

Southend-on-Sea City Council (24 022 142)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 02-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s provision of interim accommodation and its decision to end its provision under its homelessness duty. It was reasonable for Mr X to ask for a review of the Council’s decision to end his accommodation and its decision that he was not entitled to accommodation as he was intentionally homeless.