Leicester City Council (23 015 900)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 05-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to meet its duties to him when he became homeless and gave him the wrong priority on its housing allocation register. There was fault in how the Council handled Mr X’s homeless application which caused him confusion at a difficult time. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr X, review its procedures, and issue reminders to its staff. However, I did not investigate the rest of Mr X’s complaint. When Mr X came to the Ombudsman, the Council was still within time to consider its reviews of his housing allocation priority and whether he was in priority need as a homeless person. Also, there is no merit in investigating further any information the Council provided Mr X about a homeless shelter.

Somerset Council (23 009 511)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 05-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr W complained the Council has delayed its review of its decision he was not in priority need of housing. When its review was completed, it agreed he had priority. We found the Council has caused a delay and is therefore at fault.

London Borough of Southwark (23 009 605)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 05-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about matters relating to his homelessness including the failure to add him to the housing register; failure to make a referral; failure to provide housing benefit advice and that his interim accommodation was unsuitable. Mr X says he suffered a deterioration in his mental health and suffered financially. There was fault in not adding him to the housing register as his application should have been awarded reasonable preference due to being homeless. A suitable remedy for the injustice caused is agreed.

London Borough of Lewisham (23 016 114)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 04-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the way it handled her homelessness application because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

London Borough of Lambeth (23 010 115)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Feb-2024

Summary: There was fault by the Council. The council did not issue a written decision after it decided Mr X was not homeless or not in priority need. Issuing the decision remedies the injustice.

Mid Sussex District Council (22 017 206)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 29-Feb-2024

Summary: Mr X complains the Council has not properly completed a review of its decision he is intentionally homeless. Mr X says he suffered economic loss and avoidable distress. The Council is not at fault.

London Borough of Lambeth (23 009 431)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 28-Feb-2024

Summary: Mr X complained the Council has delayed in deciding his homelessness application and housed himself and his family in unsuitable accommodation. This denied him the right to appeal the accommodation’s suitability and prevented him from joining the housing register. The Council’s delays in issuing a decision on Mr X’s homeless application and its failure to properly consider the suitability of the interim accommodation it provided is fault. This fault has caused Mr X an injustice.

London Borough of Redbridge (23 016 876)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 27-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to remove Miss X from its housing register. This is because it relates to events that took place more than 12 months ago and it would have been reasonable for Miss X to bring this complaint to us at the time.

Canterbury City Council (23 016 102)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 24-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assistance towards paying for accommodation which Mr X secured for himself under the Council’s homelessness prevention duty. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Brighton & Hove City Council (23 015 950)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 23-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about repayment of charges for storing Mr X’s belongings. Any investigation is unlikely to find enough evidence the Council was at fault, so we would not be likely to recommend what Mr X wants.