Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to provide the complainant with permanent housingCouncil’s housing allocation because. We have not seen there is not enough evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council have failed to provide her with a permanent accommodation offer within a reasonable timeframe.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate 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 continue an investigation if we decide:
• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

I considered the information provided by the complainant and the Council.

I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

3. Miss X has been on the housing register since 2019 with a band one priority. She is currently living in a two-bedroom flat with her three children. One of her children has special educational needs and a medical need for their own room.
4. Miss X complains she has not yet received an offer of permanent housing despite bidding on multiple properties.
5. The Council have explained there is a shortage of social housing in their area, which is causing long waits for those on the housing register.
6. I am unlikely to find fault with the lack of a permanent housing offer. Miss X has been awarded band one priority in line with the Council’s housing allocations scheme and can bid on eligible properties. Miss X’s bidding history shows she can place bids, and the Council have encouraged her to do so more frequently.
7. Miss X also complains that some of the properties she bids on have a priority for homeless applicants.
8. Last year, Miss X bid on 6 of the 86 properties advertised; however, 3 of those had a preference for homeless applicants. The Council must allocate in line with its allocations scheme. I note this allows the Council to advertise properties with “preference to” criteria, allowing those who do not meet the criteria to be bypassed. While I understand Miss X is frustrated by the wait for housing, the Council is entitled to set preference to criteria in line with its policy, and I am unlikely to find fault with this.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman