Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about inadequate homelessness support because most of the complaint is late and because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Mr X, says he is vulnerable and the Council abandoned him without appropriate homelessness support. He wants compensation and for the Council to provide immediate accommodation.

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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 an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council. This includes the complaint correspondence. I also considered our Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council provided Mr X with accommodation in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. On some occasions accommodation was provided as part of the Covid response and sometimes due to severe weather. The Council says Mr X abandoned each accommodation. Mr X most recently left hotel accommodation in March 2025.
6. Mr X complains about the quality and suitability of the accommodation especially in 2020 and 2021. He says there was alternative accommodation which was more suitable that the Council could have offered. He complains about a £6000 debt which he disputes and has referred to bed bugs in a hotel in 2021. Mr X wants compensation of about £51,000.
7. I will not investigate the events between 2020 and 2023 because they are late complaints and I have not seen any good reason for Mr X to delay complaining to us. I have noted however, that the Council says they were emergency placements and there is no evidence of a £6000 debt.
8. I will not investigate the accommodation in 2024 and 2025 because Mr X chose to leave. He could have remained and made complaints if he thought the accommodation was unsuitable. If Mr X currently needs accommodation he can approach the Council.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate this complaint because it is late and because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman