Manchester City Council (23 017 649)

Report Upheld Homelessness 08-Nov-2024

Summary: Ms B complained that the Council, in respect of her housing application, had failed to find her suitable alternative temporary accommodation despite concluding in July 2023 that her current accommodation was unsuitable and had failed to award her Band 1 priority on the housing register. This has caused Ms B significant distress and inconvenience living in unsuitable accommodation.

London Borough of Lambeth (23 017 860)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Oct-2024

Summary: The Council was at fault for delay providing temporary accommodation because of which Ms X and her children experienced the distress of eviction. The Council was also at fault for leaving Ms X and her family in bed and breakfast accommodation for nine weeks longer than the six weeks allowed in law. This caused Ms X avoidable financial loss and the whole family significant distress. The Council has agreed to apologise and make payments to Ms X to remedy this injustice. The Council should update us on its progress against its Housing Needs Service Improvement Plan.

London Borough of Hillingdon (23 019 289)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Oct-2024

Summary: Ms K complains the Council failed to provide suitable temporary accommodation. The Council was at fault and it has agreed a remedy.

London Borough of Enfield (23 020 377)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Oct-2024

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s failure to provide suitable accommodation for her and her children when they were homeless. We found the Council at fault as they were placed in hotel accommodation for considerably longer than the law permits. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to remedy the injustice caused.

Birmingham City Council (23 020 552)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Oct-2024

Summary: On the evidence we have seen, we find the Council failed to provide suitable accommodation when Mr C and his family were homeless. It housed them in bed and breakfast accommodation for over 32 weeks. The maximum time limit bed and breakfast accommodation can be used for homeless applicants with dependent children is six weeks. Mr C said the accommodation caused increased living expenses and distress. The Council has agreed to make a payment to remedy his family’s injustice.

London Borough of Wandsworth (24 001 980)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 29-Oct-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her housing and homeless case. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault. In addition, it is reasonable for Miss X to ask the Council to complete a review of its decision.

London Borough of Lambeth (23 011 920)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 28-Oct-2024

Summary: Mrs Y complained about the way the Council dealt with her homelessness and housing register applications. We have found fault by the Council, causing injustice, in: failing to tell Mrs Y about its decision to remove her husband from her application and her review rights; failing to follow the proper process in response to her request it reconsider the suitability of her temporary accommodation; and its poor complaint handling. The Council has agreed to remedy this injustice by; apologising to Mrs Y; making a payment to reflect the distress caused; and service improvements.

London Borough of Enfield (23 021 012)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 28-Oct-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council failed to provide her and her family with interim accommodation when she first presented as homeless and later placed them in unsuitable interim accommodation. We found the Council placed the family in unsuitable interim accommodation in a hotel for longer than the law allows. In recognition of the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X and make a payment to her.

London Borough of Lambeth (24 007 899)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 28-Oct-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council ending its homelessness duty to Mr X. It was reasonable for him to ask for a statutory review of the decision with further rights of appeal to the court.

London Borough of Barnet (24 008 932)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 26-Oct-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a homelessness application. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.