South Gloucestershire Council (25 006 248)

Report Upheld Homelessness 27-Apr-2026

Summary: Ms X complained the Council refused to support her and her child when they fled domestic abuse in 2023. Specifically, she says the Council decided they did not qualify for homelessness assistance because they did not have a local connection to the area. Instead, the Council referred them back to their previous area, where the domestic abuse had occurred, on the basis that they had a local connection there. Ms X says these decisions have severely affected her mental health and wellbeing and placed her and her child at risk of further harm.

London Borough of Brent (25 008 995)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 14-Apr-2026

Summary: Miss B complained about the way the Council dealt with her case when she approached as homeless in 2024. We found the Council did not deal with her application properly which caused Miss B distress and uncertainty regarding her housing options. The Council has agreed to increase its symbolic payment to Miss B.

London Borough of Hillingdon (25 004 679)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 13-Apr-2026

Summary: The Housing Ombudsman Service (the HOS) finds maladministration by the Council in respect of its handling of Miss X’s reports of noise nuisance and antisocial behaviour. The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) finds the Council at fault for failing to consider whether Miss X’s circumstances meant there was reason to believe she was homeless. However, for the reasons set out in the statement, we do not find this fault caused Miss X an injustice. Both Ombudsmen find the Council at fault for a delay in completing a risk assessment. The Ombudsmen have not found the Council at fault for how it conducted its management transfer procedure. The Ombudsmen have made orders and recommendations to remedy the injustice to Miss X and to improve the Council’s services.

London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (25 005 215)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 13-Apr-2026

Summary: Mr Q complains the Council did not properly handle his homeless application. It did not make a proper decision and then said he did not have a local connection. We uphold the complaint. The Council made a decision to not accept a new application from Mr Q based on a flawed analysis of whether he had had a change of circumstances. This will have caused him some distress and uncertainty. The Council has agreed to our recommendation of a symbolic payment as a remedy.

Broxbourne Borough Council (25 013 430)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 13-Apr-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to issue a main housing duty to him. Mr X is currently engaged in an appeals process for which court proceedings have been issued. We cannot investigate a complaint when someone has gone to court about the same matter.

Tandridge District Council (25 013 755)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 13-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the suitability of temporary accommodation provided by the Council. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s decision making to justify an investigation.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (25 004 240)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 12-Apr-2026

Summary: Miss D complained about the way the Council dealt with her homeless application after she fled domestic abuse. We found fault which caused Miss D to be in unsuitable accommodation for 21 months. The Council has agreed to apologise, backdate her priority date for her housing register application and make a symbolic payment to remedy the injustice.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (25 009 174)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 12-Apr-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council has withdrawn support with finding alternative housing despite her circumstances. She complained it has also failed to consider her medical conditions when withdrawing support. We found there was fault in the way the Council considered Miss X’s homelessness application. This fault has caused Miss X an injustice. The Council will apologise and make a payment to Miss X and provide guidance to staff.

London Borough of Enfield (25 010 564)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 12-Apr-2026

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has not dealt properly with her housing, causing avoidable distress. Mrs X has commenced Judicial Review proceedings in court. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint and will discontinue the investigation.

London Borough of Barnet (24 022 894)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 08-Apr-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council placed her and her family in unsuitable accommodation and wrongly assessed her household as needing only two bedrooms. We find no fault in the Council’s decision on bedroom entitlement. However, we find fault in its failure to properly assess suitability at the outset, delays in addressing serious hazards, and delay in completing a suitability review. This caused the family prolonged distress and uncertainty, and meant they lived in unsuitable accommodation for an extended period and continue to do so. We recommend the Council apologise, make a financial payment to Mrs X, and take further action to address hazards.