Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about this Council’s lack of support when she fled domestic abuse. There is insufficient evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained about the Council’s lack of support when she approached it for help when she was homeless due to domestic abuse. She said that, due to Council failings, she remained in accommodation where she was at risk.

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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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

(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 Ms X.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Ms X asked the Council for assistance in February 2025. She told it she had been placed in temporary accommodation by Council B but had suffered domestic abuse and was at high risk of further abuse occurring.
6. In its response to her complaint, the Council said it was giving Ms X advice only because Council B had already accepted a main housing duty. Therefore, Council B had a duty to provide alternative temporary accommodation if her current housing was no longer suitable because she was at risk.
7. Where an applicant is fleeing domestic abuse, they can approach any council for help but only one council will accept a homelessness duty. In this case, Council B already owed a main housing duty, so it was not fault for this Council to refer Ms X back to Council B. There is insufficient evidence of fault by the council to justify further investigation.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman