Bracknell Forest Council (26 003 055)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 18-Aug-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s housing. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault that would justify further investigation.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (26 011 706)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 18-Aug-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her homelessness case. It was reasonable for her to ask the Council for a review.

London Borough of Croydon (25 009 450)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Aug-2026

Summary: Ms D complains the Council placed her in unsuitable temporary accommodation. I have found the Council at fault; it failed to take full account of Ms D’s housing need and case history when it moved her to a studio flat. Ms D remained in unsuitable accommodation for nine months. The Council has agreed to pay Ms D redress.

London Borough of Lambeth (25 014 634)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Aug-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for failing to send Mrs X a letter confirming it owed her the main housing duty and advising her of her appeal rights. When the Council did assess the suitability of Mrs X’s temporary accommodation in response to her complaint it found it statutorily overcrowded, which was also fault. The Council has agreed to make a payment to Mrs X to acknowledge the frustration caused by the poor communication and the impact on the family of living in overcrowded accommodation for longer than they should have. It has also agreed to review how it procures temporary accommodation to ensure it has sufficient information about the size and suitability of properties.

London Borough of Newham (25 015 254)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Aug-2026

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s significant delays with making a new decision on his homeless application, after it withdrew its original one. The Council offered a remedy as it accepted fault with its lack of robust or timely action, poor communication and poor case management. This caused Mr X significant distress, uncertainty and frustration. We considered the Council’s symbolic payment offer appropriate to recognise his injustice and did not make further recommendations.

London Borough of Southwark (25 024 664)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 17-Aug-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to pay compensation for delay in dealing with Miss X’s complaint about her housing application and failure to issue a Stage 2 complaint response. The Council has paid the compensation and a Stage 2 response was issued the same week that Ms X complained to us. There is insufficient injustice remaining to warrant an investigation.

Somerset Council (25 011 331)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 16-Aug-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. It cannot show that it properly considered whether it is reasonable for Ms X to stay in her current property, nor that it told her that she could ask it to review its decision about this. The Council’s actions have caused Ms X uncertainty about whether it owes her a housing duty. The Council should apologise to Ms X, make her a symbolic payment, and review its housing duties towards her.

London Borough of Brent (25 017 591)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 16-Aug-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. It cannot show that it assessed the suitability of temporary accommodation before it moved Miss X and her children there; it later found that the accommodation was not suitable but did not move her from it; it did not do enough in good time to secure settled accommodation, and it did not recognise it had a duty to protect her belongings. The Council’s shortcomings meant Miss X stayed in unsuitable accommodation for six months and her disabled child could not get to school. She was caused distress and uncertainty. The Council acknowledged some fault and made a symbolic payment. It should make a further payment in recognition of the additional injustice I have found, and take steps to make sure the faults do not recur.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 020 126)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 16-Aug-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a homelessness application. Delay in issuing a homelessness Relief duty letter for four weeks did not cause any significant injustice to Mr X.

Birmingham City Council (25 020 186)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 16-Aug-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s provision of temporary accommodation which Miss X says is unsuitable due to a mouse infestation. It was reasonable for Miss X to seek a review of suitability and use the appeals procedure available under the homeless legislation if this was unsuccessful.