London Borough of Croydon (24 014 756)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 29-Apr-2025

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

Dorset Council (24 021 197)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 29-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about housing priority. There is not enough evidence of fault to warrant investigation.

London Borough of Bromley (24 020 417)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 28-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council’s offer of housing association accommodation made to the complainant in 2019. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Miss X could not have complained to us sooner. We will not investigate the Council’s assessment of her housing application. The Council has reviewed the decision on her case and there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Birmingham City Council (25 000 757)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 28-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an unsuccessful application to join the housing register because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Worthing Borough Council (24 004 444)

Statement Upheld Allocations 27-Apr-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council's handling of her housing application, which she said prevented her moving from unsuitable accommodation that adversely affected her health and prevented her family from living together. We found fault in the Council’s handling of the application which caused Mrs X uncertainty. To put matters right, the Council agreed to apologise to Mrs X and undertake a further review of her application.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (24 016 154)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 27-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about disrepair and the housing register. This is because part of the complaint is late and because we cannot investigate complaints about a council when it is acting as a landlord.

Sheffield City Council (24 020 141)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 26-Apr-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.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (24 007 664)

Statement Upheld Allocations 24-Apr-2025

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s handling of her housing application. The Council was at fault for the delay in assessing her housing need and for poor communication. It has already apologised and offered a payment to acknowledge the frustration this caused which was an appropriate remedy. There was no fault in the way it has applied the policy or in what it allows Miss X to bid for.

Birmingham City Council (24 012 111)

Statement Upheld Allocations 24-Apr-2025

Summary: Miss B complained about the Council’s decision to close her housing applications. We find that the Council failed to clearly communicate the consequences of not providing supporting documents, requested unnecessary evidence and then wrongly decided her application was incomplete, despite her submitting all the required evidence. This led to the closure of her applications which caused avoidable frustration for Miss B and delayed her ability to join the housing register. The Council has agreed to assess Miss B’s application and, if she qualifies to join the register, it will backdate her award date. It has also agreed to apologise to Miss B, make a symbolic payment to her, and carry out service improvements.

Birmingham City Council (24 012 924)

Statement Upheld Allocations 24-Apr-2025

Summary: Mrs B complained about the Council’s decision to close her housing applications. We find that the Council wrongly decided her application was incomplete, despite her submitting all the required evidence. This caused avoidable frustration for Mrs B and delayed her ability to join the housing register. The Council has agreed to assess Mrs B’s application and, if she qualifies to join the register, it will backdate her award date. It has also agreed to apologise to Mrs B, make a symbolic payment to her, and carry out service improvements.