Leicester City Council (23 015 268 fr)

Report Upheld Homelessness 28-Aug-2025

Summary: We have written this further report because the Council has refused to comply with some recommendations made in our report issued on 15 October 2024. Although the Council has complied with our service improvement recommendations and agreed to make a payment for distress, it has refused to remedy all the personal injustice caused to Ms X, by the Council’s fault. We are not satisfied with the Council’s explanation for refusing to fully remedy the personal injustice to Ms X. We have therefore issued this further report to highlight our continuing concerns.

South Kesteven District Council (24 010 719)

Report Upheld Homelessness 18-Aug-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the lack of support and accommodation the Council provided after he became homeless in 2024. He says this caused him significant stress while he was street homeless and made his health conditions worse.

London Borough of Lewisham (24 016 564)

Report Upheld Homelessness 14-Aug-2025

Summary: Mr Y complained on behalf of Ms X about the Council’s handling of her homeless application after she received notice to leave a private tenancy. Particularly, that the Council told Ms X to stay in the property until the court issued a bailiff warrant. Mr Y says Ms X experienced avoidable financial loss and distress.

London Borough of Camden (24 015 788)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Jul-2025

Summary: Mr D complained the Council left him in unsuitable temporary accommodation. I have found fault by the Council, it has agreed to pay Mr D £450 for the three months delay moving him to suitable temporary accommodation.

London Borough of Redbridge (24 008 348)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Jul-2025

Summary: The Council failed to properly assess the capacity of three family members to make a homelessness application when they told the Council they were suffering domestic abuse. The Council did not deal with the safeguarding referral appropriately or in good time, and did not offer the family social care needs assessments soon enough. It cannot show how it made the decision to offer a one-bedroom property and it took too long to deal with the complaint to it. The family missed out on interim accommodation, and they were caused distress and uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise, make symbolic payments to the family, and review their housing needs. It will also review its training and procedures on mental capacity assessment, arranging interpreters, and monitoring case progress.

London Borough of Bexley (24 009 345)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Jul-2025

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s handling of her homelessness application. She says the Council wrongly advised her to stay in the property even after the expiry of a valid eviction notice. She also says the Council failed to offer her temporary accommodation promptly which led to her getting into rent arrears after her landlord raised the rent and made the property unaffordable. We found the Council was at fault for not offering interim accommodation when Ms S became homeless. The Council agreed to apologise, pay her legal costs and pay her a remedy for the stress she experienced.

London Borough of Hackney (24 023 291)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We have upheld Mr X’s complaint about a delay in carrying out a review of the suitability of his temporary accommodation. We will not investigate further because the Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to remedy the uncertainty caused.

Birmingham City Council (25 003 520)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the suitability of temporary accommodation. It was reasonable for Miss X to request a review of the Council’s decision, then to use her statutory right of appeal to county court.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (25 004 047)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the suitability of temporary accommodation. It was reasonable for Miss X to use her statutory right of appeal to the county court. It remains open to her to seek permission from the court to submit a late appeal.

Isle of Wight Council (24 015 465)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 28-Jul-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council placing him in unsuitable interim accommodation. He also complained that it would not offer him interim accommodation until he rehoused his emotional support dog and that a housing officer was rude and dismissive towards him. We found fault by the Council on all matters. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr X and make him symbolic payments in recognition of the injustice caused to him.