Recommendation 5

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)