London Borough of Lewisham (25 010 581)

Statement Upheld Allocations 07-Jul-2026

Summary: We found fault by the Council on Miss Y’s complaint about its decision to place her in unsuitable accommodation. It accepted it was not suitable for her and her child. It failed to act on her initial report about access problems or advise sooner about possible harassment. The stage 1 response under its complaints procedure was incomplete. The Council agreed to apologise for the fault, make a symbolic financial payment, reimburse a month’s council tax, and carry out a review to ensure the failures cannot be repeated in future. There was no fault on her remaining complaint.

Broxtowe Borough Council (25 017 005)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 07-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a housing application. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Brighton & Hove City Council (25 018 020)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 07-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s assessment of her housing priority. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making to justify our involvement.

Surrey Heath Borough Council (25 018 119)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 07-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a housing application. there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation. We will not exercise discretion to investigate a complaint about the suitability of temporary accommodation in 2023. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Miss X could not have complained to us sooner.

Ipswich Borough Council (25 019 665)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 07-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the length of time she has been waiting on the housing register. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.

London Borough of Haringey (25 012 959)

Statement Upheld Allocations 06-Jul-2026

Summary: Miss X complained about how the Council handled an incident of harm against her child by a neighbour. She raised concerns about safety and overcrowding and complained it did not rehouse her or award additional priority to move. We did not find the Council at fault for its actions and considerations with the incident. The Council accepted fault for its poor complaints handling and apologised to Miss X. We decided this was appropriate to remedy Miss X’s injustice for this and did not make further recommendations.

Sheffield City Council (25 015 638)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 06-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her housing application. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Birmingham City Council (25 011 792)

Statement Upheld Allocations 06-Jul-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. The Council delayed carrying out a suitability review of temporary accommodation and delayed moving a family when it found the accommodation was unsuitable. The Council also placed the family in Bed and Breakfast accommodation for 43 weeks over the maximum 6 weeks allowed. The family have now moved, but an apology, symbolic payment and review of procedures remedies the injustice.

London Borough of Southwark (25 015 950)

Statement Upheld Allocations 05-Jul-2026

Summary: Miss D says the Council failed to assess evidence she supplied to determine her housing need. I have found the Council at fault because it delayed assessing the evidence and caused Miss D avoidable distress. The Council has agreed to pay Miss D redress and apologise.

Blackpool Borough Council (25 024 012)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 05-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s review of Mr X’s housing priority banding. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making to justify us investigating.