London Borough of Lambeth (21 007 096)
Category : Housing > Allocations
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 18 Oct 2021
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council closing the complainant’s housing application in 2018. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
The complaint
- The complainant, whom I refer to as Mr X, says the Council should not have closed his previous housing application. Mr X says the Council should have kept it open and upgraded it to show over-crowding.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Ombudsman investigates complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council. I also considered our Assessment Code and invited Mr X to comment on a draft of this decision.
My assessment
- Mr X joined the housing register in 2012. He was offered a bedsit in 2018 which he accepted. The Council closed his housing application because he had been housed.
- In 2020 Mr X contacted the Council to query why he could not bid. He shares custody of his son and needs a larger home.
- In October and December 2020 the Council invited Mr X to submit a new application. It explained his previous application was closed in 2018 because he had been housed.
- Mr X applied to join the housing register in August 2021. The Council accepted the application and registered him for a two bedroom home. It explained it would do further assessments if it offers a home to determine what percentage of the time his child lives with him.
- I will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. The Council closed the previous application because it provided Mr X with a home and it opened a new application after he re-applied based on his new circumstances.
Final decision
- I will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman