The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council delaying in processing Mr X’s homeless application and for placing him in temporary accommodation that was dirty and in need of repairs. This is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
Mr X complains the Council delayed in processing his homeless application for two years. He also complains the Council placed him in temporary accommodation that was dirty and in need of repairs. He says there were delays in the Council repairing the property.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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 or an investigation if we decide further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
In February 2022, Mr X complained to us about the delays in the Council processing his homeless application. The Council has already accepted it had delayed in processing his application and offered a financial remedy to recognise the impact this had.
We considered Mr X’s complaint and decided not to investigate as it would not lead to a different outcome. As we have already considered and decided on this element of Mr X’s complaint, I will not consider this again.
The Council has accepted fault for the temporary accommodation not being cleaned to an agreeable standard. The Council appropriately apologised to Mr X for this and arranged for the repairs to be completed to the property.
Therefore, I will not investigate this complaint as it would not lead to a different outcome. This is because the Council has already provided an appropriate remedy for the fault and injustice accepted.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman