Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s handing of her housing applications. The Ombudsman will not investigate her complaint because she has accepted an offer of permanent accommodation. This has remedied any potential injustice to her.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained about the Council’s failure to provide her with suitable accommodation since she first presented as homeless in 2016. She says this affected her quality of life and that or her two young children.
2. She says she wanted to be rehoused in permanent, suitable accommodation.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint. I refer to this as ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we believe it is unlikely further investigation will lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
4. If we are satisfied with a council’s actions or proposed actions, we can complete our investigation and issue a decision statement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 30(1B) and 34H(i), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

5. I discussed the complaint with Miss X and considered the written information she and the Council provided before reaching a draft decision on the complaint.

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What I found

6. Miss X had been provided with temporary accommodation by the Council since 2016 when she first presented as homeless. In July 2019, she was provided with accommodation that was unsuitable because it was in a sheltered housing complex meant for persons over the age of 55. Miss X has two young children. She complained about this and other matters relating to her housing situation.
7. In response the Council accepted the accommodation was unsuitable and made a modest compensation payment to her.
8. Miss X remained dissatisfied so brought her complaint to the Ombudsman.
9. Since making this complaint Miss X has been rehoused into permanent accommodation. She had told me she is satisfied with where she is now living.
10. Because this is the outcome Miss X wanted there is no further role for the Ombudsman, so I will not investigate this complaint any further.

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Final decision

11. The Council has provided Miss X with permanent suitable accommodation. As this was the outcome sought by Miss X, there is no reason any further involvement by the Ombudsman.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman