Sheffield City Council (23 015 438)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mrs X’s housing case. She says the Council cancelled an offer of a suitable property without good reason and cancelled her priority award. This is because an investigation would not lead to any further outcomes.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (23 017 769)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council deciding Miss X is intentionally homeless. It is reasonable to expect Miss X to use the review and appeal process the law provides for such situations.

London Borough of Redbridge (23 008 444)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 19-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to provide him with suitable accommodation when he became homeless and his removal from the housing register. We found the Council to be at fault. It failed to review its suitability decision when compelling new evidence was provided by the occupational therapy service. It also incorrectly removed Mr X from the housing register. These faults caused Mr X an injustice. The Council has agreed to take action to remedy this.

London Borough of Enfield (23 004 360)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 19-Mar-2024

Summary: Ms Z complained about the way the Council handled her reports of disrepair and noise. As a result, Ms Z said she has lived in accommodation which is in a very poor state of repair. There was some fault by the Council in how it considered Ms Z’s reports but this did not cause her injustice.

North Lincolnshire Council (23 000 168)

Statement Upheld Private housing 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We found no fault by the Council on Ms C’s complaint of it failing to ensure home improvement works were done and affordable. There were some delays in responding to correspondence and contacting the contractor. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.

London Borough of Hounslow (23 016 106)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s homelessness decisions. It is reasonable to expect Miss X to have used her review and court appeal rights.

London Borough of Lambeth (23 007 837)

Statement Not upheld Homelessness 18-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council handled his housing. He said it impacted his physical and mental health, and caused unnecessary and avoidable distress. We do not find the Council at fault. We have not investigated two parts of Mr X’s complaint because they are outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

Medway Council (23 009 512)

Statement Upheld Private housing 18-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s lack of action and communication when he reported his landlord failed to address disrepair, mould and damp issues at his privately rented property. We found the Council at fault for letting the case drift, not properly considering Mr X’s concerns and failing to record or explain its decisions to Mr X at the time. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to remedy the injustice caused.

London Borough of Bexley (23 004 436)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council refused to include his son in his homeless application. We found the Council was at fault because it provided no contemporaneous documentary evidence of its decision-making and failed to provide Mr X with reasons for its decision. In recognition of the injustice caused the Council has agreed to apologise to Mr X and make a payment to him.

Nottingham City Council (23 007 792)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Mar-2024

Summary: Ms X complained that the Council failed to make sure the managing agent of her temporary accommodation provided a satisfactory repairs service. She said there was an unreasonable delay in replacing external doors which were not waterproof resulting in damp and mould and a delay in resolving issues concerning access to the property. We found the agency failed to complete the repairs in accordance with its service level agreement. In recognition of the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X and make a payment to her.