Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about homelessness support. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about the support the Council provided after he became homeless. He said his Housing Officer lied to him; failed to properly consider his disabilities and manipulated him into accepting a private tenancy. He said that had affected his mental health. He wants the Council to place him on the housing register.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate 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 or continue an investigation if we decide:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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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 asked the Council for help after he became homeless. The Council accepted the relief duty and provided Mr X interim accommodation. Shortly after, Mr X contacted the Council and said the accommodation was not suitable for his needs. He said he wanted permanent accommodation. He complained about how his Housing Officer had communicated with him.
6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the suitability of the interim accommodation. In the Council’s complaint response, it set out its reasons for considering the accommodation suitable. There is not enough evidence of fault in how it made that decision to justify our involvement. Additionally, Mr X has moved into private rented accommodation. Therefore, there is nothing worthwhile to be achieved by investigation.
7. The Council ended the relief housing duty to Mr X through an offer of private rented accommodation. It set out his review rights. It also accepted Mr X onto the Housing Register. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.
8. In its complaint response, the Council set out the steps the Housing Officer had taken to support Mr X. It apologised if he felt he had not been listened to. Further investigation by the Ombudsman would not lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman