Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Deferred
Work with Ombudsman to review resourcing, jurisdiction, and powers for temporary accommodation complaints.
Recommendation
We are disappointed in the Minister for Homelessness and Democracy’s response that vulnerable families living in B&Bs should be expected to “raise a challenge in the courts or bring their concerns to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman” when local authorities do not fulfil their statutory obligations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44) If the Government believes that the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is the most suitable avenue for redress when local authorities fail to adhere to their statutory duties regarding temporary accommodation, the Government must work with the Ombudsman to review its resourcing, statutory jurisdiction, and powers, so that it can investigate all complaints of unsuitable temporary accommodation and take appropriate action with haste. (Recommendation, Paragraph 44)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government did not address the recommendation to review the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's resourcing or powers. Instead, it highlighted its aim to reduce emergency accommodation use for families and the ongoing £8 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots with 20 local authorities.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
13. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) provides an essential service investigating complaints when a homeless applicant is not satisfied with how the council has handled their case. It is important to have an independent body to review such cases. 14. The LGSCO received increased funding for 2025/26 in recognition of increased demand. We will continue to engage with the LGSCO to consider demand in regard to homelessness cases.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗