London Borough of Redbridge (21 000 799)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Nov-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s actions and decisions around her housing and homelessness applications between 2019 and 2021. The Council was at fault. It delayed issuing Mrs X with a homelessness decision letter and then delayed issuing her Personal Housing Plan for seven months. It meant on balance that Mrs X remained in interim accommodation for longer than necessary. The Council agreed to apologise and pay her a total of £1,100 to recognise the distress, uncertainty and time and trouble caused.

Westminster City Council (21 009 610)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 26-Nov-2021

Summary: I will not investigate this complaint about temporary accommodation being unsuitable. This is because the complaint is late and I see no reason why it could not have been made sooner.

London Borough of Haringey (20 008 763)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 26-Nov-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault by the Council on Miss Q’s complaint about it failing to provide her with suitable temporary accommodation. It failed to show an inspection and necessary checks were done before she moved in. It delayed dealing with reports about mould and damp. It also failed to move her to suitable alternative temporary accommodation for 18 months. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.

London Borough of Bromley (21 011 523)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 25-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s homelessness application made in 2019. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The complaint has been made late to us outside of our usual 12-month time period for accepting complaints. Even if we did exercise discretion to investigate, it is likely we would decide it was reasonable for the complainant to have used his rights to request reviews of the Council’s decision on the suitability of his temporary accommodation.

Lewes District Council (21 001 505)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 25-Nov-2021

Summary: Miss X complains the Council failed to provide adequate support when she and her partner were being evicted from their property. The Council is at fault as it failed to provide adequate support to Miss X and Mr Y with their housing. It failed to refer them for floating support and failed to contact them for several months. As a result Miss X and Mr Y were caused significant distress. The Council has agreed to remedy Miss X and Mr Y’s injustice by apologising and making a payment of £250 to them.

Luton Borough Council (21 009 914)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 24-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council offering unsuitable accommodation. Miss X used the homelessness review procedure, which is the correct route for that matter. We cannot investigate the Council’s actions as landlord of Miss X’s social housing.

Broadland District Council (20 012 728)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 23-Nov-2021

Summary: Mr C complained about the way the Council responded when he became homeless. We did not find fault with the way the Council handled Mr C’s homelessness application. We found some fault with the way the Council handled Mr C’s complaint and restricted his contact. We also found fault with the Council for failing to consider its duty under the Equality Act 2010. Mr C did not suffer a significant injustice from the fault.

Birmingham City Council (21 010 766)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 23-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Miss X’s housing application. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Sevenoaks District Council (21 000 767)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 22-Nov-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about how the Council dealt with his housing and homeless case. The Council was at fault for failing to decide whether Mr X was threatened with homelessness in a timely manner and whether it owed him a prevention duty. The Council was also at fault for its poor record keeping and poor communication with Mr X. As a result, the Council’s failings caused Mr X distress, uncertainty, inconvenience and financial loss. The Council will take action to remedy the injustice caused.

London Borough of Brent (20 013 269)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 22-Nov-2021

Summary: Ms B complained that the Council placed her in accommodation which was damp and its response to her concerns was inadequate. She said the damp and mould was affecting her health and that of her son. The Ombudsman found no fault on the Council’s part.