Manchester City Council (25 010 181)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 23-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the support provided during while bidding for properties. The injustice claimed is not significant enough to justify investigation.

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (24 013 528)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 19-Dec-2025

Summary: We have found the Council at fault for failing to secure interim accommodation for Miss X when it had reason to believe that she was eligible, homeless and in priority need. This left Miss X without suitable accommodation for the period until the Council reached its decision that she had no priority need. The Council has agreed to take action to remedy Miss X’s injustice.

Basildon Borough Council (24 018 810)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 19-Dec-2025

Summary: The Council was at fault in how it offered and arranged accommodation for Mr X after he became homeless. It later housed him in unsuitable accommodation for too long. This caused Mr X uncertainty and distress. To remedy Mr X’s injustice, the Council will apologise and pay him a symbolic amount. To prevent similar fault in future, the Council will issue a staff reminder and put processes in place to ensure it can comply with guidance on housing for care leavers.

London Borough of Hillingdon (24 023 333)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 19-Dec-2025

Summary: The Council denied Ms X her right to ask for a review of the suitability of her temporary accommodation. The Council told her she did not have this right. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X. Ms X can complain the Energy Ombudsman about an excessively large electricity bill at a previous property.

London Borough of Lambeth (25 009 916)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 18-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about advice given by the Council about the procedure for making a private rental deposit payment to a landlord. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (25 010 344)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 18-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council decision that Ms X was intentionally homeless. Ms X appealed to the court against this decision so we do not have the power to investigate it. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council failing to protect her belongings. It is reasonable to expect Ms X to go to court about the damage and loss of her belongings.

Westminster City Council (25 011 268)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 18-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her homelessness and housing register applications. This is because the matters complained about did not cause her sufficient injustice to justify our involvement.

London Borough of Wandsworth (24 016 588)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 17-Dec-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council placed her in unsuitable emergency accommodation, delayed moving her from that accommodation, allowed the landlord to enter the accommodation without notification and moved her to another property which was unsuitable as it was unfurnished. The Council delayed addressing the issues with the suitability of the first accommodation, delayed moving Miss X to new accommodation and failed to consider the suitability of a male entering Miss X’s accommodation when she had fled domestic abuse. There is no fault in the remainder of the complaint. Miss X has suffered distress. An apology, payment to Miss X and guidance to officers is satisfactory remedy.

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council (25 003 781)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 17-Dec-2025

Summary: There was fault by the Council. Ms X could no longer stay in her property and the Council failed to consider interim accommodation, and its homelessness duties properly. It did not complete a medical assessment soon enough, and it did not deal with Ms X’s complaint properly. This caused Ms X distress and uncertainty, but it is unlikely that she missed out on suitable accommodation. The Council has agreed to apologise for the impact on Ms X and make a symbolic payment to recognise the distress and uncertainty it caused her.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 009 696)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 17-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to consider medical evidence when assessing the suitability of Miss X’s temporary accommodation. This is because the Council has agreed to a suitable remedy.