Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mr X’s housing needs. He complains the Council placed him in unsuitable temporary accommodation for two years, failed to repair the disrepair in the property, and that his social workers did not provide adequate support. This is because an investigation would not lead to a different outcome as the Council has made an appropriate offer to remedy the injustice caused by the faults accepted.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of his housing needs. He complains:
• The Council placed him in unsuitable temporary accommodation for two years, despite telling him he’d only be housed in the accommodation for up to six months.
• There was significant disrepair in the property.
• The Council delayed in completing repairs to the property.
• His social workers have not provided adequate support with his housing.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start an investigation if we decide:

• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
• investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X was placed in temporary accommodation, Property 1.
6. During its complaint investigation, the Council acknowledged Mr X it had advised him he would only remain in Property 1 for up to six months. The Council also acknowledged Property 1 was not ideal for Mr X’s mental health needs.
7. The Council noted it had escalated the disrepair matters and tried to access Property 1 to fix the issues. However, Mr X declined access.
8. The Council moved Mr X to new accommodation in February 2023.
9. In recognition of the fact Mr X was in unsuitable accommodation for 24 months longer than he should, the Council offered Mr X £150 per month. A total of £3600. This offer is in line with the Ombudsman’s guidance on remedies.
10. Mr X wants a higher monthly payment. However, after consideration of the circumstances, I do not consider a higher monthly payment to be necessary. This is because the Council had made attempts to fix the disrepair issues with the property, had offered Mr X several alternative properties (which Mr X declined), and because the Council did provide appropriate support to Mr X to help him find alternative accommodation. Therefore, an investigation is not justified as it would not lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation would not lead to a different outcome as the Council has made an appropriate offer to remedy the injustice caused by the faults accepted.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman