London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 005 931)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 24-Mar-2026

Summary: Ms X complains the Council mishandled and delayed dealing with her homelessness application putting her at risk from an abusive ex-partner causing distress. We found service failure by the Council as it was unable to move Ms X to more suitable accommodation immediately due to a lack of available accommodation but it was working proactively with Ms X to secure accommodation. But this fault did not cause an injustice to Ms X. So, we have completed our investigation.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 016 008)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 11-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about being evicted from his temporary accommodation without notice. The Council accepted fault and offered an appropriate symbolic payment to remedy the injustice caused. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 014 819)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 10-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s delay in issuing an Education, Health and Care Plan for Ms X’s child. The Council has agreed to provide a proportionate remedy for the distress caused and this removes the need for us to investigate.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (24 023 123)

Statement Upheld Charging 25-Feb-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault. It delayed Mrs Y’s financial assessment and did not clearly explain Mrs Y’s care charges and initially overcharged her. It did not update Mrs Y’s care and support plan when there was a change in care hours agreed and it communicated poorly with a family member, Mrs X. The Council has already recredited payments it should not have charged Mrs Y. It will also apologise and pay a symbolic payment to Mrs X and Mrs Y to acknowledge the frustration, confusion and distress caused. The Council will review its services to prevent a repeat of the faults.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 006 832)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-Feb-2026

Summary: The Council failed to ensure Miss X’s child, Y received an education in line with their Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan between December 2024 and July 2025 when they could not attend school due to exclusion. The Council was also at fault for significant delays in issuing Y’s amended EHC Plan following an annual review in July 2024. The Council agreed to apologise and make a payment to recognise the injustice this caused.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (24 023 015)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 20-Feb-2026

Summary: Ms X complained about errors in the Council’s consideration of her neighbour's planning applications dating back to 2014. We found no fault in the Council’s decision-making when considering enforcement action. There was fault when it failed to decide one of Ms X’s neighbour’s applications, but this did not cause Ms X significant injustice. There was also fault when the Council delayed responding to Ms X’s stage two complaint. Its earlier apology is sufficient remedy for the frustration caused.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 006 518)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Feb-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to properly support her homelessness application after she received a Section 21 notice from her landlord. The Council failed to properly assess if it was reasonable for Miss X to remain in the property and delayed progressing the prevention duty to the relief duty. This is fault and caused undue distress, uncertainty and time and trouble to Miss X. She also incurred court costs as a result of the Council’s delays. The Council agreed actions to remedy the injustice.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 013 782)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 18-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delays in the Council’s Educational, Health and Care annual review process. The Council has provided an appropriate remedy for the injustice caused to the complainant and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 015 252)

Statement Upheld Parking and other penalties 11-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Penalty Charge Notices because we are satisfied with the offer the Council has already made to remedy the issue and it is reasonable to expect Mr Y to approach the Traffic Enforcement Centre and the London Tribunals if he wishes to challenge the validity of the enforcement of the charges.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (24 009 497)

Statement Upheld Allocations 30-Jan-2026

Summary: Mr X complained the Council did not properly consider his medical and welfare needs when it made decisions about his housing register application. He also said it did not refer his case to its Social Needs Panel and took too long to reply to his complaints and review request. We found fault by the Council in its handling of Mr X’s housing register application and his requests for it to review its decision on his application. We also found it at fault in its handling of his complaint and its consideration of a letter from his solicitor. The Council agreed to apologise, reconsider its decisions on Mr X’s housing register application and make him a symbolic payment in recognition of the injustice caused to him.