London Borough of Tower Hamlets (25 012 662)
Category : Housing > Homelessness
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 09 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about a homelessness application. It was reasonable for Ms X to ask for a statutory review and appeal to the County Court against the Council’s decision
The complaint
- Ms X complains the Council did not provide her accommodation when she was made homeless.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone could take the matter to court. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to go to court. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(c), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X made a homelessness application. Ms X says she informed the Council of relevant medical conditions as well as domestic abuse.
- The Council assessed Ms X’s application and decided Ms X was not in priority need and was not owed the main housing duty.
- Ms X says the Council failed to consider her medical evidence when deciding she was not in priority need.
- The Council advised Ms X of her right to request a review of the decision. Ms X did not request a review.
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s decision she was not in priority need and was not owed the main housing duty. This is because Ms X had the right to seek a review of the decision and appeal to the county court on a point of law if the review was unsuccessful. It would have been reasonable for Ms X to request a review of the Council’s decision that she was not owed the main housing duty.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. It was reasonable for Ms X to ask for a statutory review and appeal to the County Court against the Council’s decision
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman