Publicising planning applications This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who believe that the council has failed to advise them of a planning application that may affect them and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. The council did not tell me about a planning application. Can the Ombudsman help me? Yes, in some circumstances. If you believe that the council failed to tel ...

Homeless Croydon man left to sleep on the streets because council did not do enough to help A Croydon man with mental health difficulties was left to sleep on the streets despite asking the council for help, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The man first approached London Borough of Croydon for help in July 2023 after he had become homeless. The Ombudsman’s investigation ...

Enfield family left in unsuitable accommodation for three years A disabled dad and his family were left in mouldy, mouse-infested temporary accommodation, despite Enfield council accepting it was not suitable for their needs, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The father, who has mobility problems and uses a wheelchair, first approached the Ombudsman in 2017. That investiga ...

Young family left homeless by Haringey benefits blunder A young family, including a disabled child, had to leave their home following a miscalculation of their housing benefits by London Borough of Haringey, reports the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The single-parent family had been living in privately rented accommodation, but were asked to leave by their landlord after the council ...

Mum left in debt after council stopped autistic son’s school transport A Nottingham mum was left unable to pay her bills when she had to pay for a taxi to get her son to his special school, because the city council withdrew his free transport, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The single mum, who is on a low income, had been receiving free taxis to take her son to school. ...

Social workers should have done more to ensure man received appropriate care Social workers in Northamptonshire did not do enough to ensure a care home implemented a vulnerable man’s care plan, a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation has found. Despite the man’s family raising concerns about the care he was receiving, social workers did not do enough to ensure he was properly l ...

Somerset mum had to pay for children’s therapy while she waited for council funding A Somerset mother was left more than £7,000 out of pocket while she waited for the council to release funds for her children’s much-needed therapy, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The mother, whose children’s extensive special educational needs mean they have Education, Health and Care (E ...

Your tenant's claims for housing benefit (complaining as a landlord) This fact sheet is aimed primarily at landlords whose tenants are experiencing problems with their housing benefit and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. My tenant cannot pay his rent as he has problems with his housing benefit claim. Can the Ombudsman help me? We would normally expect tenants who have probl ...

Birmingham wheelchair user left in unsuitable home for eight years by council A Birmingham man has been left in unsuitable temporary accommodation for eight years despite the city council knowing it did not meet his needs as a wheelchair user, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. Birmingham City Council has now agreed to pay the man nearly £30,000 for the time he and his fami ...

Be clear about visits to home-schooled children says Ombudsman Councils must be clear with parents of home-schooled children whether home visits are routine or triggered by specific concerns, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has said. This comes following an investigation into a complaint about Leicester City Council, after attendance officers visited a family based on unsubstantiat ...