London Borough of Camden (22 016 900)
Category : Housing > Allocations
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 02 Apr 2023
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the points awarded to Mrs X’s housing application. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault with the way the Council considered Mrs X’s housing application. In addition, the Council has allocated points in line with its allocations policy.
The complaint
- Mrs X complains the points the Council has awarded to her housing application is not reflective of her household’s situation. She says her housing conditions impacts badly on her health conditions.
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 or 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 the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The Council has awarded Mrs X’s housing application 500 points. This is made up of:
- 100 points for overcrowding.
- 150 points for Health and Housing
- 250 points for time on list
- Mrs X says her housing is impacting on her health condition. The Council has recognised this as it has awarded Mrs X’s 150 points for health and housing. Mrs X considers the Council should award her 500 points for health and housing. However, there is no evidence the Council has not properly considered Mrs X’s circumstances. Therefore, the Council is entitled to decide Mrs X is only eligible for 150 points for health and housing.
- Having reviewed the Council’s allocations policy, I am satisfied the Council has awarded points to Mrs X’s application in accordance with its policy.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault with the way the Council considered Mrs X’s housing application. In addition, the Council has allocated points in line with its allocations policy.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman