Case Ref: 24 014 106 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• •Remind relevant staff to inform applicants about their appeal rights when offering accommodation.

Case Ref: 23 003 079 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Antisocial behaviour

• Share this decision, and the Ombudsman’s focus report ‘Out of Order: learning lessons from complaints about antisocial behaviour’ with relevant staff.
• Review its policies on Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) and the ASB case review, as well as the information published online, to make sure these accord with each other and with the law and statutory guidance, (particularly with regard to the threshold for the ASB case review and how these are conducted, and with regard to how the Council considers its powers fully).
• Share the new policy and published information with staff so that they are clear on the Council’s responsibilities and processes.

Case Ref: 23 000 890 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• The Council has agreed to remind relevant staff to ask applicants to the housing register for supporting evidence if this is necessary to assess their priority properly.
• The Council has agreed to ensure all homeless applicants who tell the Council about experiences of domestic abuse are given the option to meet with an officer of the same sex.
• The Council has agreed to remind relevant staff that a valid notice seeking possession of a private tenancy should not automatically lead the Council to accept a prevention duty where other circumstances, including domestic abuse, indicate the applicant is homeless and owed the relief duty.
• The Council has agreed to remind relevant staff, with training or guidance as needed, that Personalised Housing Plans should:a. be provided to applicants owed a duty as soon as possible after assessment; b. be kept under review; andc. contain meaningful steps for both the Council and the applicant to take.