Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (24 013 711)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 04-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Councils consideration of a homeless application. It was reasonable for Mr X to challenge the Council’s decision by way of statutory review and court appeal.

Buckinghamshire Council (24 014 817)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 03-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about the Council’s decisions on Mr X’s homelessness application. There is not a good reason for the significant delay in Mr X bringing the complaint to us, and in any event it was reasonable for Mr X to appeal the decisions he complains about.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (24 001 219)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 30-Jan-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s response to his request for homelessness assistance when he was fleeing domestic abuse. We have found fault by the Council, causing injustice, in failing to: properly consider its homelessness duties to Mr X, in particular the duty to provide interim accommodation; refer him to domestic abuse support services; be clear about the information required for his separate housing and homelessness applications; and properly consider the need for the provision of safe accommodation for male domestic abuse victims within its area. The Council has agreed to remedy this injustice by: apologising to Mr X, making payments to recognise the impact on him of the failure to provide suitable interim accommodation and the distress and upset caused, reviewing his housing register application and making service improvements.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (23 007 751)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 30-Jan-2025

Summary: Ms B complained about the Council’s actions when her mother Mrs C was threatened with homelessness due to hoarding behaviour. Ms B complained that the Council failed to take adequate account of Mrs C’s mental health needs or offer sufficient support with the hoarding situation. We have not found fault with the actions of the Council.

Broadland District Council (24 013 768)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 30-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about the Council’s homelessness and housing benefit decisions. Both decisions brought a statutory right of appeal, which were reasonable for Mr X to use. In any event, there is not a good reason for the delay in Mr X bringing the matter to the Ombudsman.

Manchester City Council (24 013 335)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 30-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms Y’s complaint about the Council’s lack of action when she reported her accommodation was unsuitable. This is because there is insufficient evidence of Council fault causing a sufficient injustice to Ms Y to justify our involvement.

London Borough of Brent (23 021 337)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Jan-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council dealt with his homelessness and housing applications, his succession application, and Notice to Quit. Based on the evidence seen so far, the Ombudsmen propose finding fault by the Council, causing injustice. The Council should remedy this injustice by apologising, making payments to reflect the distress caused, and service improvements.

London Borough of Camden (24 014 094)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 28-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about mistreatment by staff at a Council-run hostel. We could not add to the Council’s investigation and it is unlikely we would achieve a different outcome.

London Borough of Brent (24 014 194)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 28-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision on a homeless application by Mr X. It was reasonable for him to submit a statutory review request and pursue an appeal to the court if it is unsuccessful.

London Borough of Camden (23 021 195)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 28-Jan-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about how the Council handled his homelessness after he received an eviction notice in 2022 and 2023. The Council failed to take steps to provide Mr X with appropriate help and support to alleviate his risk of homelessness between October 2022 and January 2024. This meant Mr X and his family remained in a property with the risk of eviction. The Council agreed to apologise and make a payment to Mr X to recognise the distress and uncertainty this caused.