London Borough of Redbridge (23 008 444)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 19-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to provide him with suitable accommodation when he became homeless and his removal from the housing register. We found the Council to be at fault. It failed to review its suitability decision when compelling new evidence was provided by the occupational therapy service. It also incorrectly removed Mr X from the housing register. These faults caused Mr X an injustice. The Council has agreed to take action to remedy this.

London Borough of Enfield (23 004 360)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 19-Mar-2024

Summary: Ms Z complained about the way the Council handled her reports of disrepair and noise. As a result, Ms Z said she has lived in accommodation which is in a very poor state of repair. There was some fault by the Council in how it considered Ms Z’s reports but this did not cause her injustice.

London Borough of Lambeth (23 007 837)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 18-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council handled his housing. He said it impacted his physical and mental health, and caused unnecessary and avoidable distress. We do not find the Council at fault. We have not investigated two parts of Mr X’s complaint because they are outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

London Borough of Bexley (23 004 436)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council refused to include his son in his homeless application. We found the Council was at fault because it provided no contemporaneous documentary evidence of its decision-making and failed to provide Mr X with reasons for its decision. In recognition of the injustice caused the Council has agreed to apologise to Mr X and make a payment to him.

Nottingham City Council (23 007 792)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Mar-2024

Summary: Ms X complained that the Council failed to make sure the managing agent of her temporary accommodation provided a satisfactory repairs service. She said there was an unreasonable delay in replacing external doors which were not waterproof resulting in damp and mould and a delay in resolving issues concerning access to the property. We found the agency failed to complete the repairs in accordance with its service level agreement. In recognition of the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X and make a payment to her.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (23 010 560)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complains the Council was at fault in the way it dealt with his need to move from his temporary accommodation after the Council decided it was unsuitable for him and his family’s medical needs causing distress. We found fault because the Council did not provide Mr X with suitable temporary accommodation, and we have made appropriate recommendations. So, we have completed our investigation.

Somerset Council (23 020 277)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 15-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his homeless case. He says the Council has ended its duty and has stopped paying for his accommodation. This is because it would be reasonable for Mr X to ask the Council to review its decision. Following this, if Mr X is unhappy with the Councils’ review decision, he has the right to appeal to the county court.

London Borough of Ealing (23 007 192)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 15-Mar-2024

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to act on her reports that leaks, mould and damp in her temporary accommodation have made the property unsuitable for her and her family. We found fault by the Council in how it responded to Miss X’s concerns. The Council has agreed to review the suitability of Miss X’s temporary accommodation and apologise to her.

Isle of Wight Council (23 008 399)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 14-Mar-2024

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to award her the correct housing priority and placed her in unsuitable temporary accommodation. There was no evidence of fault in the way the Council assessed Miss X’s housing priority. The Council failed to consider whether Miss X was requesting a statutory review of the property’s suitability. However, it considered the issues she raised about the property’s suitability through its complaint procedure so this did not cause Miss X a significant injustice. It has agreed to issue a reminder to staff to prevent a recurrence of the fault.

London Borough of Lambeth (23 009 142)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 13-Mar-2024

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide a bidding number to allow her to bid for properties following a housing application and sent her other people’s bidding details in error. Miss X also complained the Council failed to respond to her reports of damp and overcrowding. Miss X says this has resulted in her not being able to bid on properties and affected her and her family’s health. We have found fault with the actions of the Council for failing to provide a bidding number and deal with Miss X’s queries concerning this and for failing to investigate Miss X’s reports of damp and overcrowding.