Allocations

London Borough of Brent (18 015 462)

Statement Upheld Allocations 03-Sep-2019

Summary: Miss X complained about the way the Council handled her request to transfer to alternative housing because she is in fear of violence from her former partner. The Council is at fault for delays in decision-making and in identifying suitable alternative accommodation for Miss X. It should apologise, pay her £1,300 and make changes to its processes to avoid a repetition of these faults.

Babergh District Council (18 018 869)

Statement Upheld Allocations 02-Sep-2019

Summary: Mrs C says the Council was wrong to register her for four-bedroom adapted properties. The Council was not at fault for registering Mrs C for four-bedroom properties but failed to consider her appeal about the requirement for a level access shower. That caused Mrs C frustration and uncertainty. An apology and reminder to officers is satisfactory remedy.

London Borough of Ealing (18 015 375)

Statement Upheld Allocations 30-Aug-2019

Summary: Mr X complains the Council was at fault in the way it dealt with his homelessness application and placed him and his family in unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation. We found fault because the Council kept Mr X and his family in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks. This fault caused an injustice to Mr X and family as they had limited privacy and suffered the discomfort and inconvenience of having to share facilities with other families. We have recommended a suitable remedy in this case.

Birmingham City Council (18 014 151)

Statement Upheld Allocations 27-Aug-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault on Mr D's complaint about the Council's decisions to close his 2 housing applications. It failed to tell him to provide the information it previously asked for when he sent his second application. This caused no injustice as he has yet to send the information it wants.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (18 019 253)

Statement Upheld Allocations 20-Aug-2019

Summary: There was fault by the Council. It cannot show that it properly considered medical information when it reviewed its decision on Ms B's housing needs; and it took six months to complete its own occupational therapy assessment. Ms B did not miss out on housing as a result of the delay. The Council has apologised to Ms B and on my recommendation has remedied the impact on any households that did miss out on housing while waiting for an assessment. The Council has also reviewed its contingency planning so it can decide housing applications despite staff absence.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (18 018 696)

Statement Upheld Allocations 20-Aug-2019

Summary: Mr C complains about the way the Council dealt with his housing application and says he missed the opportunity to bid and view properties and lived in unsuitable accommodation for longer than necessary. The Ombudsman has found fault by the Council but considers the actions it has already taken of an apology and offer of the next available suitable property with the additional agreed actions including a payment of £500 are enough to provide a suitable remedy to Mr C.

Leeds City Council (18 016 666)

Statement Upheld Allocations 19-Aug-2019

Summary: Ms X complains about the way the Council dealt with the annual review of her housing register application and the way it advertised a property on the Date of Registration Quota on the choice-based lettings register. We found no evidence of fault in the way the Council dealt with Ms X's annual reviews of her housing register application. We found fault in the way the Council advertised the property, but this fault did not cause Ms X an injustice. So, we have completed our investigation.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council (18 015 950)

Statement Upheld Allocations 12-Aug-2019

Summary: Mr S complains about the way the Council has dealt with concerns about his current accommodation. The Council is at fault for not considering a professional medical assessment in accordance with its housing policy, when Mr S told it his health was affected by his neighbour's anti-social behaviour. The Council has agreed to make a payment for the time, trouble and uncertainty caused.

Cambridge City Council (18 016 753)

Statement Upheld Allocations 08-Aug-2019

Summary: The Council is a fault for allocating Mr X, a vulnerable man, a flat beneath a person with a history of anti-social behaviour. It caused injustice because Mr X endured 13 months of severe and sustained harassment. To put this right the Council will apologise and make a substantial payment to him.

London Borough of Southwark (18 014 257)

Statement Upheld Allocations 08-Aug-2019

Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to properly consider his application for housing. The Council failed to arrange for Mr X's property to be inspected by its Environmental Health department and failed to consider whether the standard of his accommodation would entitle him to additional priority. The Council should pay Mr X £250 for the uncertainty this caused and take action to improve its services.