Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council dealt with Ms X’s homelessness application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained the Council has kept her in temporary housing for too long. She says the Council unfairly closed her application following her complaint.
2. Ms X is seeking reinstatement of her right to bid on the Council’s housing register, and for her priority banding to be reconsidered.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

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

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Ms X applied to the Council for homelessness support and it accepted her application. The Council provided interim accommodation under its relief duty.
7. At the end of the relief duty, the Council accepted it owed Ms X the main homelessness duty. It did not move her from the property it had provided as it says the same property was now her temporary accommodation.
8. Ms X complained that she had not been moved after 56 days of being in interim accommodation. The Council explained its reasoning and how Ms X could seek a suitability review if she believed the property was unsuitable for her needs.
9. When Ms X complained to the Ombudsman’s office, she said the Council had closed her application following her complaint. She also questioned the priority the Council had given her.
10. The Council has explained Ms X had two applications and it has closed an inactive application. Ms X’s current homelessness application remains live and she can bid for properties on the Council’s homelessness register.
11. With regard to priority, Ms X should approach the Council about this and provide her reasons for believing she should be given higher priority.
12. I have not seen enough evidence of fault to justify investigating the issues raised.

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Final decision

13. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman