South Kesteven District Council (24 010 719 fr)

Report Upheld Homelessness 17-Mar-2026

Summary: We have written this further report because the Council has refused to comply with some recommendations made in our report issued on 18 August 2025.Although the Council has complied with some of our service improvement recommendations, it has refused to remedy all the personal injustice caused to Mr B by the Council’s fault. It has also refused to remind its staff about the correct test and threshold for considering interim accommodation when someone is homeless. We are not satisfied with the Council’s response to our recommendations. We have therefore issued this further report to highlight our continuing concerns.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (25 008 300)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 10-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council making an unsuitable offer of temporary accommodation. It was reasonable for Ms X to use the review and appeal procedure available under the homelessness legislation to challenge the Council’s decision.

Lichfield District Council (24 018 563)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 10-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the property she was allocated from the Council’s Housing Register. This is because it was reasonable to expect her to use her suitability appeal rights.

Westminster City Council (24 022 986)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 10-Mar-2026

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s response to his homelessness. We found the Council to be at fault because it took too long to process his suitability review and medical assessment. The Council has already provided an appropriate reply during its complaints handling and so we have not made further recommendations. We did not identify any other areas of fault.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (25 015 841)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 10-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss B’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her private housing disrepair reports. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigation. We will also not investigate her complaint about the Council’s communications about these matters. It is unlikely further investigation would lead to a different outcome.

Dacorum Borough Council (25 029 314)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 10-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about housing allocations as his complaint about events which occurred in 2023 is too late. Also, the law says his complaint about the decision to refuse the request for a housing transfer should be made to the Housing Ombudsman.

Dartford Borough Council (25 003 041)

Statement Upheld Allocations 09-Mar-2026

Summary: Miss D complains the Council failed to correctly deal with private housing disrepair, homelessness and alleged harassment by her landlord. I have not found fault by the Council except for a failure to obtain a Police report when considering the harassment allegations. The Council has agreed to review the evidence in the harassment case.

London Borough of Newham (25 004 297)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 09-Mar-2026

Summary: The Council delayed deciding Mr X’s homelessness application and failed to consider medical information he provided as part of his application. This caused Mr X prolonged uncertainty over the outcome of his application. The Council had agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mr X and review his application.

Surrey Heath Borough Council (25 007 744)

Statement Upheld Allocations 09-Mar-2026

Summary: Miss D complains the Council delayed allowing her to bid for a larger social housing property. I have not found fault overall in the handling of the case except for one instance when the Council failed to clarify how it had assessed some evidence and applied its Allocations Policy. The Council will apologise to Miss D and revise its guidance on this matter for officers.

Birmingham City Council (24 023 161)

Statement Upheld Allocations 09-Mar-2026

Summary: Miss B complained about the Council closing her housing application. We find that the Council failed to clearly explain which documents she had not provided, and what evidence it would accept as proof of her address. This caused Miss B some frustration and inconvenience. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss B.