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.

Manchester City Council (24 010 615)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 26-Aug-2025

Summary: Ms X complained about the way the Council handled her homelessness and housing register applications. We found some fault with how it handled Ms X’s homelessness application and how it decided her priority on the housing register. The Council agreed to apologise and make a payment to Ms X to recognise the distress caused.

Babergh District Council (24 016 746)

Statement Upheld Allocations 26-Aug-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council wrongly refused to include two of his children on his housing register application and failed to consider exercising its discretion to do so. There is no evidence the Council considered whether to exercise discretion to include the two children. An apology to Mr X, further consideration of his case and reminder to officers is satisfactory remedy.

Leeds City Council (24 019 750)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about support for rehousing because there is insufficient evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

London Borough of Newham (24 020 053)

Statement Upheld Allocations 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We found no fault on Miss Y’s complaint about the Council preventing her from bidding on suitable properties. There was fault on her complaint about it failing to consider whether it needed to assess whether she was homeless because it was unreasonable to expect her to continue living in her home. The Council agreed to send a written apology, pay £400 for the injustice caused, remind relevant officers of the duties owed to those who may be homeless, and consider whether it owes her a homeless duty. It also agreed to check whether she needs help bidding and contact her about the key safe and pendant alarm.

Birmingham City Council (24 020 100)

Statement Upheld Allocations 26-Aug-2025

Summary: The Council was at fault for how it removed Ms X from its housing register and for not allowing her to review this decision. This meant Ms X could not bid on properties or challenge the Council’s decision. The Council agreed to apologise, make a payment to Ms X for the distress caused and re-assess Ms X’s housing register application.

Tendring District Council (25 001 391)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to provide homelessness support because there is insufficient evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

Peterborough City Council (25 003 229)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about breaches of a private lease agreement between Miss X and the Council. It is reasonable for Miss X to seek a remedy in the courts which are best placed to determine private legal contract disputes.

Lewes District Council (25 003 327)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Allocations 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a housing application and disrepair and tenancy issues in a Council property. It is reasonable for Mrs X to ask the Council to review her housing application and any new circumstances. We cannot investigate complaints about repairs and tenancy matters by social housing landlords.

London Borough of Bromley (25 003 445)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Homelessness 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the suitability of a property the Council offered her. She has the right to appeal, and it is reasonable to expect her to use it. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the way the Council reached the decision on suitability.