Overview:

Key to names used

• Mr X The complainant

Summary

Mr X complained the Council did not properly consider his homelessness application after he became homeless in July 2022 due to fleeing domestic violence. He says the Council did not carry out its duties towards his application, which meant he missed out on accommodation opportunities.

Finding

Fault found causing injustice and recommendations made.

Recommendations

The Council must consider the report and confirm within three months the action it has taken or proposes to take. The Council should consider the report at its full Council, Cabinet or other appropriately delegated committee of elected members and we will require evidence of this. (Local Government Act 1974, section 31(2), as amended)

In addition to the requirements set out in the paragraph above, the Council should take the following actions to remedy the injustice identified in this report.

Within three months of the date of this report, the Council should:

• write to Mr X and apologise for the handling of his homelessness application and for failing to accept the main housing duty;
• pay Mr X £500 to recognise the distress caused to him;
• pay Mr X £150 a month, from March 2023 for loss of accommodation that he would otherwise have had the opportunity to access;
• pay Mr X £200 to recognise the time and trouble in pursuing his complaint;
• write to Mr X and accept the main housing duty, backdating this to 56 days after the relief duty was accepted;
• discuss with Mr X whether he currently needs temporary accommodation; and
• register Mr X on the Property Pool Plus (PPP) scheme and provide him with the support to access the scheme. His account should also show as backdated in line with the previous recommendations.

Within 3 months of the date of this report the Council should review how it ensures:

• it is giving written decisions about whether it owes a main housing duty; and
• applicants can access the PPP scheme and its support for vulnerable users.

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