Manchester City Council (25 013 081)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 14-Jul-2026

Summary: Ms X complained the Council did not find her suitable temporary accommodation and advised her to remain in the property, which resulted in her incurring court costs. We found the Council at fault because it delayed progressing her homelessness application, failed to properly consider and provide accommodation duties owed to her, and did not adequately respond when she identified alternative accommodation. These failures caused Ms X and her children distress and uncertainty and left them in accommodation unreasonable to occupy for an extended period. The Council will apologise, make a symbolic payment and reimburses the court fee Ms X incurred. It will also remind staff of its duties relating to interim accommodation and main housing duty.

London Borough of Brent (25 015 880)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 14-Jul-2026

Summary: There was no fault in the way the Council dealt with a homelessness applicant’s request, for a review of its decision he was not in priority need. We have therefore completed our investigation.

London Borough of Southwark (25 018 000)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 14-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her homelessness application. Part of the complaint is late and carries appeal rights. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the parts of the complaint we can consider. 

London Borough of Hackney (25 009 276)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 13-Jul-2026

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s failure to provide her with suitable housing and its mismanagement of the financial support for her housing. She also said the Council’s communication with her was unsatisfactory and the Council failed to apply reasonable adjustments when communicating with her. We found fault with the Council’s failure to find suitable accommodation for Ms X for many months. This fault caused her injustice. The Council has agreed to make a payment to Ms X.

London Borough of Sutton (25 011 791)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 13-Jul-2026

Summary: Miss X complained about the way the Council dealt with her housing. The Council was at fault for delaying in deciding the main housing duty, communicating poorly about her rent and service charge and failing to provide individual support to Miss X. This caused Miss X frustration and uncertainty and delayed her right to a statutory review. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to recognise the injustice caused. It should also correct any errors on her rent account.

London Borough of Redbridge (25 018 233)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 13-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his homelessness application. There is insufficient evidence of fault in its decision-making and there is insufficient evidence to justify our involvement.

London Borough of Southwark (25 018 303)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 13-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X complaint about the Council’s response to a leak in her temporary accommodation. The Council have provided a suitable remedy.

St Albans City Council (25 006 974)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 13-Jul-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. It failed to tell Mr X that he had the right to ask the Council to review its decision that he was not homeless or threatened with homelessness. This meant that Mr X lost his legal right to ask for a review. The Council will apologise to Mr X and reinstate his review rights. The Council will also remind staff that where the Council has reason to believe a person is threatened with homelessness, it has a duty to make enquiries, and it needs to issue a full decision letter including details of the applicant’s review rights.

Brighton & Hove City Council (26 009 425)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 13-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to a safeguarding matter. The Council has already investigated the matter, and further investigation would not lead to a significantly different outcome for X.

London Borough of Islington (25 008 359)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 12-Jul-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. The Council delayed carrying out a review of a housing decision, delayed taking a new homeless application and delayed providing Temporary Accommodation after a new decision. The complainant has now received an offer of permanent housing. An apology, symbolic payment and a service improvement remedies the injustice of the uncertainty caused to Mr X.