Homelessness

London Borough of Camden (18 019 829)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 10-Sep-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to advise her of changes to its housing allocation scheme in 2015, which affected her eligibility. Mrs X also complains that the Council failed to provide assistance when she completed an online homeless prevention form in June 2018. The Council's failure to notify Mrs X when she no longer qualified for the allocation scheme and its failure to provide homeless advice and assistance amounts to fault. The Council has provided an appropriate remedy for these faults.

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (18 015 756)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 09-Sep-2019

Summary: Miss X complains about the Council's actions which led to her brother being sent to a hostel. She complains the Council should have been aware of her brother's vulnerabilities and that because of these vulnerabilities, he should not have been sent to the hostel. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council's actions.

London Borough of Havering (19 000 035)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 02-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complains he requested support from the Council in 2016 when he was homeless for several months, but it failed to provide this support. He says this period has had a significant impact on him mentally and he wants the Council to apologise to him for its failure. The Ombudsman has found the Council was not at fault because it provided an appropriate level of support to Mr X in the period before and after he became homeless in 2016.

Leicester City Council (19 001 806)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 02-Sep-2019

Summary: Miss X complained about the way the Council handled her homelessness and housing applications, and about its failure to carry out repairs after a leak in her temporary accommodation. The Council was not at fault.

London Borough of Bromley (18 012 118)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Aug-2019

Summary: Miss Y complains the Council failed in its statutory duty to properly consider the affordability of the temporary homelessness accommodation it offered to her. Miss Y also says the Council provided misleading advice about her liability for Council Tax. The Ombudsman upholds Miss Y's complaint. The Council will pay a total of £400 for the distress caused and undertake the procedural improvements listed at the end of this statement.

Norwich City Council (18 016 851)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 28-Aug-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains about how the Council handled her housing situation, including its decision to disqualify her from its housing register and the action it took when she was threatened with homelessness. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council as it did not show it had properly considered Mrs X's evidence in its review response and did not review her personal housing plan. However, this did not cause Mrs X significant injustice, so no remedy is necessary.

Birmingham City Council (19 001 269)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 27-Aug-2019

Summary: Ms B complains about the way the Council dealt with her housing situation. There was some fault by the Council in its handling of Ms B's homelessness application but it has not caused her significant injustice.

Manchester City Council (18 016 856)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 27-Aug-2019

Summary: Ms X complains that the Council failed to act on reports of disrepair to her temporary accommodation and failed to send her gas safety certificates. She also complains that the Council did not investigate her complaint fairly. Ms X says this caused her financial loss, impacted on her health, and caused her to lose her business. She also says the Council has harassed her. The Ombudsman does not find the Council at fault.

Purbeck District Council (18 008 055)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 27-Aug-2019

Summary: there was fault in the way the Council carried out its duties to Miss X when she was homeless. The successor authority - Dorset Council - has agreed to provide a suitable remedy for the injustice caused by her extended stay in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council (18 016 156)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 19-Aug-2019

Summary: Ms B complains about the Council's handling of her request for housing help after she was made homeless. We find the Council's decision to end the interim accommodation duty was affected by fault. This caused Ms B an injustice because it is possible she would have been accommodated for longer if the Council had acted without fault. To put right this injustice the Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Ms B. We have completed our investigation.