Summary: Fault by the Council resulted in Mr X being left without suitable permanent accommodation for nine months longer than should have been the case. The Council has now rehoused Mr X. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Mr X to remedy the outstanding injustice Mr X suffered.

Summary: Mr B complains the Council’s homeless prevention team’s neglect and incompetence led to his eviction. Mr B says because of the Council’s actions he became homeless. The Ombudsman has not found fault with the Council’s actions. The Council told Mr B about its overpayment of housing benefit, gave him information about his appeal rights and explained what would happen if he did not pay his housing benefit overpayment.

Summary: Mrs X complains about a Section 157 restriction on her house which she says makes it difficult to sell. The Ombudsman will not investigate her complaint. This is because Mrs X’s complaint is late. There is also not enough evidence of fault, and it is unlikely we could add anything to the response Mrs X has already received from the Council.

Summary: Ms B complained a priority star was wrongly removed from her housing application in October 2019. The Ombudsman finds the Council was at fault for its confusing communications with Ms B. In addition to the action it has already taken, the Council has agreed to our recommendation to issue Ms B with a further apology and make a payment to remedy the injustice caused by fault.

Summary: Ms B complains the Council failed to award her the correct priority for rehousing, to take account of the level of overcrowding in her current home. The Ombudsman finds no fault by the Council in this matter.

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s priority on the housing register. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and insufficient evidence of injustice. In addition, part of the complaint is late.

Summary: Ms X complained the Council caused delays to her housing application. She said her household is currently living in unsuitable accommodation. There is no fault with the Council’s actions, and we have completed our investigation.

Summary: Mr X complained about the how the Council decided his housing priority. He is unhappy at how long it took the Council to find him a suitable home. The Ombudsman found there was fault in the Council’s consideration of Mr X’s housing needs priority, and the way it communicated its decision.

Summary: Ms C complained the Council did not stop her family being evicted from their home, did not provide suitable interim accommodation, and delayed providing storage for their belongings. The Council was at fault for raising Ms C’s expectations that it would pay her rent arrears and for failing to assess the suitability of her interim accommodation. The Council has agreed to take to remedy this injustice.

Summary: A man complained about the Council’s decision to allow one of his neighbours to build a driveway across a large grassed area in front of his house. But the Ombudsman will not investigate this matter. This is mainly because we cannot consider complaints about actions the Council takes in its role as a social housing landlord. In addition there is no sign of fault in the way the Council considered the planning issues in question.