Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a homelessness assessment because there is nothing more we could achieve, and further investigation is unlikely to have a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council delayed her homelessness assessment and failed to communicate with her when she submitted a formal complaint. She says her temporary accommodation was unsuitable and negatively affects her mental and physical health.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide:

• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Miss X complains the Council delayed progressing her homelessness assessment. She says the Council failed to communicate with her when she submitted a formal complaint. The Council offered Miss X £400 for the delay and distress caused. This is a suitable amount and we would not be likely to recommend more.
6. The Council admitted Miss X to the housing register and she has successfully bid for accommodation and it appears she has moved into it. So, there is nothing more we could achieve for Miss X’s housing, and further investigation is unlikely to have a different outcome.
7. Miss X complained her temporary accommodation was unsuitable. If she had not already successfully bid and moved into permanent accommodation since her complaint to us, it would have been open to her to ask the Council to review the temporary accommodation and apply to the county court if the matter was not resolved. However, there is nothing more we could now achieve on this matter by investigating.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is nothing more we could achieve, and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman