Supported housing problems
Risks of unintended consequences from new supported housing licensing schemes, potentially discouraging good providers.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears across 11 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
7 PFD reports
104 committee recs
19 IMB recs
1 Scottish FAI
58 DHR recs
99 LGO/SPSO decisions
2 CJINI reports
1 Law Commission project
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Prevention of Future Deaths reports(7)
Ian Leak
Concerns: The coroner raised concerns that the 'Stay Put' policy and independent fire alarm systems at Honiton Oaks did not provide adequate external monitoring for individual flats, especially for residents with mobility problems who might struggle to escape during a fire.
Response (Peak Valley Housiing Asscoiation): • The organisation approved a design for improvements to the fire alarm systems at Honiton Oaks. • The design includes the installation of combined heat and smoke detectors in residents' … (AI summary)
Overdue
Brian Goodman
Concerns: The coroner noted that a door closing mechanism, identified as a ligature point in Mr Goodman's room, was not changed, and the same mechanisms remain in use in other properties managed by One Support.
Response (One Housing): • One Housing stated it would work with its property services division to investigate alternative closures for fire doors in schemes identified as having a higher risk of suicide. • … (AI summary)
Responded
Lance Walker
Concerns: The coroner raised concerns about the lack of regulation for supported accommodation for 18-21 year olds, which means some providers lack adequate training and resources for complex needs. Additionally, there is no standard referral form for 16-25 year olds entering supported housing, which can lead to vital information being missed.
Overdue
Matthew Lynch
Concerns: Gaps were identified in the quality of internal investigations, particularly concerning medication monitoring and verifying details of CPN visits. The report also notes barriers to appropriate Mental Health Act assessments, insufficient information sharing between agencies, and a need for more focused mental health training for support workers.
Response (Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust): • The Trust has implemented an actions tracker to ensure better oversight of agreed plans and follow-up, and introduced a 'meet and greet' role to improve the accuracy of service … (AI summary)
Response (Birmingham City Council): • Birmingham City Council (BCC) is actively recruiting and training Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) with a plan to increase numbers by 35 over the next five years. • BCC … (AI summary)
Responded
Jonathan Hamer
Concerns: The coroner noted communication difficulties between the patient's family/housing and the mental health trust, with unanswered calls and no system to manage messages when the care coordinator was absent. Additionally, the patient's case lacked a priority coding for regular review.
Response (South West London and St Georges Hospitals NHS Trust): • The Trust has procured and partially implemented a new digital communication system, Envoy, and revised related Standard Operating Procedures for staff. • Communication protocols have been reinforced across community … (AI summary)
Responded
William Rice
Overdue
Caroline Oliver
Response (Sanctuary Housing Association): Sanctuary Housing Association has implemented an immediate national process change requiring escalation of extended household item storage. They have also established a Risk Escalation Framework and plan further improvements to … (AI summary)
Responded
Select committee recommendations(104)— showing 50 strongest matches
#137 —
Recommendation: We heard further evidence about the specific vulnerabilities of young adults. Rebecca Robson told us that young adults tend to âstruggle much more with relationshipsâ, perhaps âbecause much of their life is spent online as opposed to in personâ. She …
Response attribution not verified
#34 —
Recommendation: The duty on local authorities to provide support and accommodation to children in need in their area, imposed by the Children Act 1989, extends to asylum-seeking children, and requires that children be provided with accommodation that suits their needs. Hotels …
Response status not verified
#28 —
Recommendation: We agree with the Children’s Commissioner for England and with the recommendation made in the 2022 Independent Review of Children’s Social Care that a universal set of standards of care should be introduced and applied to all settings of the …
Response status not verified
#27 —
Recommendation: We have heard evidence that many children do not feel safe or do not have their needs met whilst in so-called supported accommodation. Many of these children are legally looked after but not receiving day-to-day care. While the new regulatory …
Response status not verified
#26 —
Recommendation: We agree with the Children’s Commissioner: the government and Ofsted must sort this out and must move children to suitable regulated accommodation as a matter of urgency. We also agree that measures that should be explored include increasing efforts to …
Response status not verified
#25 —
Recommendation: We welcome the Government’s renewed focus on expanding fostering. Long- term solutions will involve systematic changes to ensure loving homes for all children in care. However, the accommodation of children in illegal homes is a problem that cannot wait. (Conclusion, …
Response status not verified
#24 —
Recommendation: Unregulated accommodation, including caravans, holiday rentals or AirBnBs, do not allow for formal inspections or scrutiny. Such settings are unlawful, unsafe, and represent a serious failure to protect children. They are also not good value for public money. We are …
Response status not verified
#23 —
Recommendation: While we understand that it can be very difficult for local authorities to arrange suitable accommodation for all children in their care, it is never acceptable to place a child in an illegal home. (Conclusion, Paragraph 130)
Response status not verified
#19 —
Recommendation: We welcome the expansion of Regional Care Cooperatives (RCCs), alongside the suite of changes to combat care market profiteering. While it is too early to tell whether these measures will be effective, these are steps in the right direction. Alongside …
Response status not verified
#18 —
Recommendation: We agree with the government that the children’s social care market is fundamentally broken. There is a serious sufficiency crisis across the country, leading to children not being placed in accommodation that supports their needs. (Conclusion, Paragraph 106)
Response status not verified
#21 —
Recommendation: Most landlords recognise their responsibility to provide tenants with a safe, decent and comfortable home. The government nationally and locally has a role to reduce unintentional non-compliance by educating landlords about their legal responsibilities and supporting them to adopt more …
Response status not verified
#11 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the government should begin rolling out Awaab’s Law in the private rented sector this year to ensure that these legal protections are fully in place across the private rented sector by the end of 2028/29. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
Response status not verified
#10 —
Recommendation: We welcome the government’s decision to apply Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector. While landlords are already required to keep their homes free from serious hazards, Awaab’s Law will strengthen this protection 81 by establishing clear timeframes landlords need …
Response status not verified
#2 —
Recommendation: We urge the government to publish the long-awaited long-term housing strategy by the end of September 2026. We will be assessing whether the strategy addresses the drivers that contribute to poor housing across the country, including in the private rented …
Response status not verified
#1 —
Recommendation: We welcome the government’s plans to raise the standard of homes in the privately rented sector over the next decade. While most renters are satisfied with their homes, a substantial minority of private renters are living in homes that are …
Response status not verified
#9 —
Recommendation: Accommodation is an important resettlement need for prison leavers, and we welcome the work that the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS have done during the pandemic to ensure that prison leavers have the best access to accommodation as possible. We …
Response attribution not verified
#17 —
Recommendation: There is a shortage of suitable accommodation for older prisoners following their release, which can undermine their rehabilitation and prevent them from successfully re-integrating into society. We are particularly concerned about reports of older individuals being released to no-fixed abode. …
Response attribution not verified
#16 —
Recommendation: Older prisoners can experience greater levels of institutionalisation and be less able to live independently following their release compared to younger cohorts. Many will require additional support to prepare them to re-join society. Release programmes and guidance that are age …
Response attribution not verified
#26 —
Recommendation: The Government must keep a careful watch on the rate of replacements. If, despite these reforms, replacements are still below a one-for-one rate, the Government must intervene further. The Government should fully disaggregate its quarterly Right to Buy data by …
Response attribution not verified
#25 —
Recommendation: We caution the Government not to make Shared Ownership Right to Buy a condition of affordable housing grant funding, until our suggested reforms on receipts are implemented. When Right to Buy is implemented for all housing associations, like with the …
Response attribution not verified
#24 —
Recommendation: If the Government’s intention is that the Right to Buy should both give people an opportunity to own their homes, but also to provide resources which will then be reinvested into social housing to ensure one-to-one replacements, then consideration must …
Response attribution not verified
#23 —
Recommendation: We recommend that, in line with the five year period which covers discount repayment, the Government prevents Right to Buy homes being privately let within five years of purchase. This will require legislating to implement a covenant against letting for …
Response attribution not verified
#22 —
Recommendation: The purpose of Right to Buy is to introduce a route into homeownership, and not reduce the number of social homes or to supplement the private rented sector.
Response attribution not verified
#21 —
Recommendation: Local authorities should receive 100 per cent of Right to Buy receipts. The time limit for using these receipts to fund a replacement should be extended to five years, rather than three. Councils should also be allowed to combine receipts …
Response attribution not verified
#20 —
Recommendation: We are mindful that the Government expects to implement substantial changes to the planning system in the near future. We will continue to monitor the impact of these changes on social housing supply, as well as scrutinising the reforms more …
Response attribution not verified
#19 —
Recommendation: It is right that the Government has identified the importance of reforming planning fees to support the capacity and skills of planning departments. It is imperative that local planning authorities have the right resources to deliver the social housing this …
Response attribution not verified
#18 —
Recommendation: Permitted development rights can be a route to provide fast and cost-effective housing, but given that the Government is aware of concerns around their use, it should publish its review as soon as possible. We remain concerned about the lack …
Response attribution not verified
#17 —
Recommendation: We are concerned the Government is letting history repeat itself, rather than learning its lessons from Starter Homes consultation. The Government has not conducted an analysis of the impact of implementing First Homes on the delivery of social housing through …
Response attribution not verified
#16 —
Recommendation: To ensure the programme can get off to swift start, we recommend the Government allows grant funding to be used flexibly to allow providers to purchase new build homes or homes close to completion from developers which may go unsold …
Response attribution not verified
#15 —
Recommendation: We estimate that land value reform could reduce the cost of the programme by up to 40 per cent. By building more social housing on Government-owned public land, the overall cost of the programme could be further reduced. Some of …
Response attribution not verified
#14 —
Recommendation: The sector estimates that £12.8 billion a year in grant funding will be needed to deliver 90,000 social rent homes every year, alongside continued support for affordable rent and shared ownership. Central government grant funding is necessary because the current …
Response attribution not verified
#13 —
Recommendation: It is time for the Government to invest so the country can build 90,000 social rent homes a year. We appreciate that even with the funding we set out below, any programme will take time to scale up, but we …
Response attribution not verified
#12 —
Recommendation: The Government should count investment in social housing as infrastructure spending, rather than day-to-day spending. Evidence shows that spending on a long-term social housebuilding programme pays back to the Exchequer over time. Furthermore, such a programme could be counter-cyclical, both …
Response attribution not verified
#11 —
Recommendation: It will take time to meet social housing need. In the short-term, we support the Government’s intention to improve the experience of tenants in the private rented sector, including on security of tenure, quality of housing, and affordability. We encourage …
Response attribution not verified
#10 —
Recommendation: A social housebuilding programme should be top of the Government’s agenda to rebuild the country from the impact of COVID-19. The crisis has exposed our broken housing system. Families in overcrowded homes have faced worse health outcomes. Private renters have …
Response attribution not verified
#2 —
Recommendation: We believe rents are only affordable when they do not exceed one third of household income. There are numerous ways to define this income and other related factors and the Government should identify its preferred method, in consultation with the …
Response attribution not verified
#16 —
Recommendation: The Home Office’s recent provision of SIM cards to asylum seekers in larger IA facilities is welcome. However, we are concerned that the denial of provision to individuals who do not have personal phones, or who are currently being asked …
Response attribution not verified
#15 —
Recommendation: Users of asylum accommodation are often very vulnerable people, including torture survivors, individuals suffering PTSD, pregnant women and mothers with small children. Smart phones, access to the internet and television can be a lifeline to a range of external information …
Response attribution not verified
#14 —
Recommendation: We are appalled that the Home Office response to the communication support requirements of service users who are not accommodated in hotels or large IA facilities was simply to gather information about where free Wi-Fi might be provided locally—thus encouraging …
Response attribution not verified
#13 —
Recommendation: We welcome the additional support that providers have told us that they are giving to their service users, specifically those who need to self-isolate, during this time. Home Office preparedness for COVID-19 (Coronavirus): institutional accommodation 55 Nonetheless we have heard …
Response attribution not verified
#12 —
Recommendation: All Home Office contracted housing providers must ensure that any vulnerable adults are accommodated appropriately. Where the Home Office has explicitly authorised an individual to have a single room, this must be implemented without question or delay. To ensure that …
Response attribution not verified
#11 —
Recommendation: Accommodation providers must urgently put in place measures to enable greater social distancing and effective hygiene practices. We are appalled at reports that service users have not been universally provided either with laundry facilities, a generous supply of cleaning products, …
Response attribution not verified
#10 —
Recommendation: The Home Office must take appropriate action, including contract variation if necessary, to ensure room sharing across the whole estate is phased out. The Department must also ensure that additional accommodation obtained to meet this requirement is of a high …
Response attribution not verified
#36 —
Recommendation: In April 2020, the Chief Inspector of Prisons similarly found that, within local prisons, resettlement assessments and planning for release had been limited as a result of COVID-19. It found that good efforts had been made to address accommodation needs …
Response attribution not verified
#35 —
Recommendation: The way offenders were treated on their release from prison has a significant impact on how they re-integrate into society.80 We received written evidence from Middlesex University, which told us that poor or inadequate resettlement pathways had resulted in lack …
Response attribution not verified
#21 —
Recommendation: Demand for exempt accommodation is driven in part by a shortage of affordable homes. To solve the issues found in exempt accommodation the Government must solve the wider housing crisis. We reiterate the recommendations from our 2020 report, “Building more …
Response attribution not verified
#20 —
Recommendation: Specifically, we recommend that the Government end the existing exemptions that registered providers have from HMO licensing and the Article 4 direction. Furthermore, we recommend that the loophole relating to non-registered providers with properties containing six or fewer residents also …
Response attribution not verified
#19 —
Recommendation: The Government, in its written ministerial statement in March and in evidence to us, said it intends to take forward measures that will include new powers for local authorities to better manage their local supported housing market. We recommend that …
Response attribution not verified
#18 —
Recommendation: The former Minister was reluctant to consider changes to the planning system, arguing that some councils are having successes with the planning tools available Exempt Accommodation 49 to them, and that raising the overall quality will reduce the negative impacts …
Response attribution not verified
#14 —
Recommendation: The Government has no idea how much taxpayer money is spent on exempt accommodation, nor what this money is spent on. It cannot know whether the current system is delivering value for money. Millions of pounds are being poured into …
Response attribution not verified
IMB individual recommendations(19)
Ashfield (2020)
Can the lack of availability of appropriate accommodation for men convicted of sexual offences be raised with the minister for housing, communities and local government?
Other
In Progress
Send (2021)
The Board is concerned that there is a lack of appropriate resettlement accommodation (7.5).
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Ashfield (2020)
When will plans for increased places in approved premises be realised?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Eastwood Park (2021)
Will HMPPS confirm what actions they are taking to improve the accommodation options for women leaving prisons and when this is likely to have an impact on outcomes?
HMPPS
In Progress
Send (2022)
The Board is concerned that there is a lack of appropriate resettlement accommodation (7.5).
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Rochester (2023)
The Board retains its view that re-offending rates cannot be reduced unless there is suitable accommodation for all prisoners who have completed their sentence or are being released on HDC. Bail accommodation is limited in the south east, and the Board urges the minister to look into this further, to see how more accommodation can be provided.
Ministry of Justice
Woodhill (2025)
Will the Minister work with colleagues to provide more approved accommodation in order to support the parole boards’ recommendations for prisoners to be reintegrated into society?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Bronzefield (2020)
The Board wishes to restate the question from our 2017/18 and 2018/19 annual reports: What has the Mayor’s office for Policing and Crime done in the last year to increase the availability of accommodation for those women who leave prison with no fixed abode?
Other
In Progress
Thorn Cross (2021)
The lack of approved premises to which prisoners can be released is a concern and more needs to be done to provide suitable accommodation.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Stoke Heath (2023)
Can the process for prisoners to rejoin their community upon release be reviewed, to ensure all prisoners are offered accommodation upon release?
HMPPS
Leyhill (2023)
What action will the minister take to remedy the lack of spaces in approved premises, which leads to many prisoners facing incarceration beyond their release dates?
Ministry of Justice
Derwentside IRC (2023)
To establish or improve pathways with local authorities and other external agencies, including probation, to enable prompt access to housing, social support and other services, which are required to be put in place before vulnerable women leave detention
Home Office
Dovegate (2025)
Will the Prison Service increase the provision for suitable long-term accommodation for those who need it, and near to their work if they have been successful in being offered a job through the work of the prisons relevant departments?
HMPPS
In Progress
Thameside (2020)
The Board urges that the welcome Government initiative to ensure that released prisoners have accommodation to go to during the COVID-19 crisis will be continued beyond the current national health emergency.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
North Sea Camp (2022)
To ensure that work continues on the further extension of Jubilee self-catering housing.
Governor / Director
Ashfield (2024)
In common with other prisons, a small number of prisoners released from Ashfield in the last 12 months did not have suitable accommodation arranged prior to release. What solution is the Minister proposing to resolve this matter?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Leyhill (2025)
The Minister take action to remedy the lack of spaces in approved premises, which leads to some prisoners facing incarceration beyond their release dates and many experiencing delays in progression towards their eligibility for parole.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Ford (2023)
The Board commented last year on issues with access to appropriate accommodation for some men on release, notably the shortage of approved premises. In spite of the significant efforts of the staff at Ford, this shortage continues to negatively impact the success of prisoner releases. (7.6.2)
HMPPS
Swansea (2025)
If the ‘Spend to Save’ pilot for maintaining tenancies is shown to be effective, what plans are in place to extend the scheme to local authority partners not yet participating?
Governor / Director
Health investigations(57)
Independent investigation: Katie Kazmi, Reading (1999) — Rec 12
Social services should ensure that housing providers are aware of the importance of giving early notification of any management problems or rent arrears.
south_east
Independent investigation: WPC Nina Mackay, Stratford, London (1997) — Rec 4
Westminster City Council should review its housing allocation policy and its use of Bed & Breakfast hotels for vulnerable homeless persons with mental health problems, with a view to increasing the supply of appropriate supported accommodation within the borough, and reducing reliance on out-of-borough placements. This review should include a …
london
Independent investigation: Joseph Day, Folkestone (2001) — Rec 21
Rethink should ensure that its admissions panel for supported accommodation includes at least one independent member with relevant clinical expertise who is not involved in the direct care of the applicant. This is to ensure objectivity and to challenge assumptions about risk.
south_east
Independent investigation: Joseph Day, Folkestone (2001) — Rec 20
Kent County Council Social Services should review its procedures for assessing and placing young people in supported accommodation, particularly those with challenging behaviour or mental health problems. The assessment should consider the appropriateness of the placement for the individual's needs and risks, and not solely focus on securing accommodation.
south_east
Independent investigation: Joseph Day, Folkestone (2001) — Rec 13
The East Kent Health Authority should review its commissioning arrangements for supported accommodation to ensure that providers are adequately supported and monitored to manage residents with complex needs and risks. This should include clear contractual requirements for risk assessment, management, and information sharing with statutory services.
south_east
Independent investigation: Joseph Day, Folkestone (2001) — Rec 11
The East Kent Community NHS Trust, Kent County Council, and Rethink should review their inter-agency communication protocols to ensure that there is effective and timely sharing of information about residents in supported accommodation, particularly when there are changes in mental state, medication, or risk factors. There should be clear lines …
south_east
Independent investigation: Joseph Day, Folkestone (2001) — Rec 9
Rethink should review its admissions policy and procedures for supported accommodation to ensure that they are robust and adequately assess the risks posed by applicants, particularly those with a history of violence or substance misuse. The admissions panel should have access to all relevant information, including psychiatric and social care …
south_east
Independent investigation: Gwen Poole, Llanbradach, Caerphilly (2009) — Rec 3.11
In order to assure itself that it fully meets its Section 117 responsibilities, Caerphilly County Borough Council must revise its housing policies and processes to ensure that suitable, good quality housing is provided to people with mental health issues, particularly those due to be discharged from hospital. Systems should be …
wales
Independent investigation: Gwen Poole, Llanbradach, Caerphilly (2009) — Rec 3.10
Aneurin Bevan Health Board and Caerphilly County Borough Council must put in place measures to ensure that their after-care responsibilities for providing adequate accommodation and housing under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act are not discharged through the homelessness route.
wales
Independent investigation: Shamim Akhtar, Birmingham (2000) — Rec 4
The Birmingham Primary Care Trusts should ensure that the Northern Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust (or its successor) is adequately funded to provide a full range of rehabilitation services, including supported accommodation.
midlands
Independent investigation: Paul Royston Herbert, Brent (2010) — Rec Thirteen
It is recommended that the future usage of AGH is developed in concert with the LBB in its strategic development of Supporting People Housing, and is aimed at supporting and sustaining people, many of whom are likely to have a continuing need of support and engagement, within Mental Health Services.
london
Independent investigation: Paul Royston Herbert, Brent (2010) — Rec Twelve
It is recommended that AGH is required as part of its Agreement, or as part of a wider Supporting People Agreement, to ensure that its staff are adequately trained to offer greater support to people in their accommodation. The Trust should consider in this arrangement whether AGH staff might access …
london
Independent investigation: Paul Royston Herbert, Brent (2010) — Rec Eleven
It is recommended that where people are subject to CPA and placed in supported housing their care coordinator has an obligation to carry out home visits, suitably accompanied, dependent on individual risk assessment, on a regular basis. This frequency could be set with a minimum standard for the ratio of …
london
Independent investigation: Matthew Carter, Tooting (2006) — Rec R17
Merton Borough Council and the trust should consider how carers under the supported housing scheme can best be supported and managed to enable them to understand and make a reliable contribution to the care and treatment of service users in supported accommodation.
london
Independent investigation: Matthew Carter, Tooting (2006) — Rec R16
Merton Borough Council should review its practice and procedure for ensuring that carers under the supported housing scheme provide the services expected of them.
london
Independent investigation: Joseph Collins, Islington — Rec 4
that the Secretary of State should consider amending the current guidelines to ensure that mentally ill people are not required to pass through unsuitable transitional accommodation, for example, bed and breakfast accommodation, before being furnished with permanent accommodation suitable for their needs.
london
Independent investigation: Jonathan Newby, Oxford (1993) — Rec 6.14
Health authorities should ensure that they purchase sufficient high care accommodation to meet needs in their areas, including the needs of those people who are currently housed in hostels where the staffing numbers and skills cannot adequate care. (This is a current Department of Health priority, but one where they …
south_east
Independent investigation: Jonathan Newby, Oxford (1993) — Rec 6.11
Authorities should view the quality and quantity of accommodation available in their area for homeless people with severe mental illness against an assessment of needs, and should plan the development of new accommodation and care services to fill any gaps.
south_east
Independent investigation: Carmel Charles, Catford (2011) — Rec 3
That the initiative being undertaken to acquire ‘fit for purpose’ accommodation for the Lewisham EIS to be subject to on-going evaluation of progress and quarterly reports be submitted to and considered by the Trust Board.
london
Mental health homicide investigation legacy report into the care and … — Rec 6
The Trust will work with the Local Authority to participate in a scoping exercise of housing need, reviewing need against current provision. The Trust will work with the Local Authority to use this information to develop a Mental Health Housing Strategy to include a strong focus on individuals with severe …
south_west
Accepted
An Independent Investigation into the care and treatment of Mr … — Rec 2
Multi-disciplinary teams should address deficits in communication with housing workers and family members. Staff have a duty to satisfy themselves that, where service users are placed in supported accommodation, their needs are being met and risks are assessed and managed.
midlands
An independent inquiry into the care and treatment of Ms … — Rec 3
Communication between the Service Areas should be improved to ensure that where there is multiple repair orders raised involving damage to the property this is passed to the Tenancy Management team for further investigation.
south_east
An independent inquiry into the care and treatment of Ms … — Rec 1
There was little contact made by Adult A to the Tenancy Services team. In these circumstances where the team is aware of problems within the family more regular visits should be carried out to the property.
south_east
Joint Safeguarding Adult Review and Independent Mental Health Homicide Investigation, … — Rec 6
The Trust must develop a system to identify service users who live in shared accommodation. Underpinning this should be an ongoing process for sharing proportionate risk information about these individuals between internal and external services involved.
london
Accepted
Joint Safeguarding Adult Review and Independent Mental Health Homicide Investigation, … — Rec 21
RBG sheltered housing services must develop a system and set out expectations for staff to formally communicate and document the outcome of housing assessments and agree next steps with partner agencies. This should include regular monitoring to support implementation and improvements.
london
Accepted
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of Ms A — Rec 8
The Trust should review the Practice of discharging conditionally discharged patients to low supported accommodation which does not have staffing over a 24 hour period.
Ms A who committed a homicide in October 2011. Ms A was in receipt of services from Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
london
Accepted
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of Mr X … — Rec Recommendation Two
The role of housing should be clarified with regard to medication management. Some hostels in the area are required to support medication compliance and mental health monitoring – others are not. At the lessons for learning workshop we heard from the Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group that guidelines are now …
london
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of Mr X … — Rec Recommendation Seven
Given the large number of residents at each hostel, many of whom present with significant and complex risk and varying states of vulnerability and anti-social behaviour, there is a need to develop an overarching strategy to monitor and as necessary respond to escalation of behaviour of concern related to relationships …
london
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of Mr X … — Rec Recommendation Eight
Of the various hostels based in Tower Hamlets, the client group has changed over the years and now includes a greater number of service users under the care of secondary mental health services. Placements are accessed via the homeless services HOST Team but at the time of the incident there …
london
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of Mr N — Rec 21
The Trust must ensure that there are effective processes in place for working with the local authority to meet the accommodation needs of young people with mental health problems.
london
Accepted
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of Mr N — Rec 20
The Trust must provide assurance that appropriate accommodation is addressed in all patients’ care planning at the point of discharge from out of area CAMHS forensic admissions.
london
Accepted
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of Mr A … — Rec R7
EIS and the housing charity should ensure that all staff are aware of all emergency accommodation options available to them.
Mr A and Mr B on the 31st January 2022. Mr A and B were in receipt of services from South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
london
Accepted
An independent investigation into the care and treatment of service … — Rec 3
To consider the need for development of a dedicated community forensic team and high support hostel for the population of Derbyshire.
midlands
Independent investigation: Joseph Day, Folkestone (2001) — Rec 12
The East Kent Health Authority should ensure that there are adequate resources available for mental health services, including inpatient beds, supported accommodation, and specialist services for co-occurring mental health and substance misuse problems. This includes ensuring that there are sufficient numbers of appropriately trained staff to deliver these services.
south_east
Independent investigation: Matthew Carter, Tooting (2006) — Rec R18
The EIS should review its practice and procedure about informing local authority housing departments and carers under their supported housing schemes of the risk histories and risk assessments of service users and of significant revisions to the CPAs of service users.
london
Independent investigation: Joseph Collins, Islington — Rec 1
that an officer of appropriate seniority be appointed to ensure that there is effective co-ordination in mental health cases between Health, Housing and Social Services.
london
Independent investigation: Jonathan Newby, Oxford (1993) — Rec 6.10
Health authorities, social service departments and housing authorities should consider establishing a specialist outreach and care team for homeless people with severe mental illness.
south_east
Independent investigation: Hugh McCaffrey, Willesden — Rec 5.79
Through joint planning and the development of the housing resource base, there should be greater clarity as to the accommodation needs of vulnerable adults living in the community.
london
Independent investigation: Camille Remy (pregnant), Hackney (2006) — Rec R14
In discussion with the CMHTs, Newham’s housing department should review the risk documentation that it receives in respect of clients with mental health needs to ensure that it encompasses and focuses on relevanthousing issues, including: · the suitability of certain types ofaccommodation · risks that the client might pose to …
london
Independent investigation: Bryan Bennett, Newham (1994) — Rec None
It is the recommendation of this report that bed and breakfast should not be used for homeless people with mental health needs.
london
Independent investigation: Brian Dodd, Prestatyn (2003) — Rec g)
That where patients need to be discharged into 24 hour supervised hostel accommodation, the length of time in supervised care is specified by MHRTs in the conditions of discharge and the discharge plan in advance.
wales
Independent investigation: Brian Dodd, Prestatyn (2003) — Rec f)
That where 24 hour supervised care is specified in the conditions of discharge and cannot be met, the matter should be brought to the attention of Local Health Boards/Health Commission Wales to ensure this requirement is properly applied.
wales
Independent investigation: Brian Dodd, Prestatyn (2003) — Rec d)
That Social Services Departments ensure adequate and appropriately staffed 24 hour supervised hostel accommodation is made available.
wales
Independent investigation: Ben Cargill (Mr D), Chesham, Bucks (2004) — Rec six
It is recommended that where patients are discharged to unfurnished accommodation staff support clients to obtain adequate furniture and domestic equipment.
south_east
An independent investigation into the care and treatment of Mr … — Rec 8
Risk Assessments and Recovery Support plans should always identify and consider a patient’s housing situation. Where a patient is experiencing housing issues, this should be identified and considered as a significant risk factor and one that requires multi-agency intervention and support.
Mr S . At the time of the homicide, he was receiving services from Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
south_west
Independent investigation: Liaquat Ali, Bury (1999) — Rec 2.iii.c
The provision of an approved local authority list of bed and breakfast accommodation to vulnerable adults with mental health problems implies that the addresses on the list are suitable for this group of people. We appreciate the difficulties of managing individual cases when there is a degree of non-cooperation. However, …
north_west
Independent investigation: Shamim Akhtar, Birmingham (2000) — Rec 15
The Northern Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust (or its successor) should ensure that all patients are fully assessed prior to any change in their living arrangements, and that the assessment includes a full risk assessment, a full social history, and a full medical history.
midlands
Independent investigation: Valerie Thomas, Cardiff (2005) — Rec 2
Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and Cardiff County Council Social Services and Housing Departments should ensure that integrated and co-ordinated services are provided for those experiencing mental health problems of whatever severity or duration, including for homeless people experiencing such problems. In particular: (a) the matter of management arrangements for …
wales
Independent investigation: Joseph Collins, Islington — Rec 3
that as part of a regular monitoring exercise, housing officers report to the Housing Committee at each cycle, on all decisions taken in mental health cases.
london
Independent investigation: Joseph Collins, Islington — Rec 2
that this practice is immediately adopted as a formal procedure between Health, Housing and Social Services and appropriate guidelines be developed.
london
Independent reviews(17)
Mental Health Taskforce 2016 — Rec 11
The Department of Work and Pensions should, based on the outcome of the “Supported Housing” review in relation to the proposed Housing Benefit cap to Local Housing Allowance levels, use the evidence to ensure the right levels of protection are in place for people with mental health problems who require …
Health & Social Care
Mental Health Taskforce 2016 — Rec 10
The Department of Health, Department of Communities and Local Government, NHS England, HM Treasury and other agencies should work with local authorities to build the evidence base for specialist housing support for vulnerable people with mental health problems and explore the case for using NHS land to make more supported …
Health & Social Care
Harris Review: Deaths in Custody — Rec 42
Where a young adult is at risk of being placed in custodial remand for reasons that include concern that they do not have suitable alternative accommodation to which they can be remanded, the relevant local authority should either have to provide it, in something similar to the ‘Bail Hostel’ provision, …
Justice & Legal
Bubb Report — Rec 5
The Government should look at ways to protect an individual's home tenancy when they are admitted to hospital, so that people do not lose their homes on admission and end up needing to find new suitable accommodation to enable discharge.
Health & Social Care
Corston Report — Rec 16
The accommodation pathway is the most in need of speedy, fundamental, gender-specific reform and should be reviewed urgently, taking account of the comments in my report. In particular, more supported accommodation should be provided for women on release to break the cycle of repeat offending and custody and the intentional …
Justice & Legal
Farmer Review (Women) — Rec 16
Allocation of accommodation guidance for local housing authorities in England to recognise the prospective housing needs of women leaving prison who are otherwise able to be reunited with their children, so local authorities can make these needs the basis for assessment.
Justice & Legal
Farmer Review (Women) — Rec 13
Models of custodial centres in the community to be considered as part of the Ministry of Justice's longer-term strategy for women whose crime is serious enough to merit a custodial sentence, but who are at low enough risk to retain care of their children.
Justice & Legal
Farmer Review (Women) — Rec 12
Residential women's centres to have places for women to bring their children, if they would not otherwise have sufficiently stable accommodation in which to complete community orders.
Justice & Legal
Gauke Review — Rec 4.5
Improve investment in and access to accommodation in the community for offenders leaving prison and those serving sentences in the community
Justice & Legal
Carol Black Drugs Review (Part 2) — Rec 23
We recommend that MHCLG and DHSC work together to gain better understanding of the types and levels of housing-related need among people with a substance misuse problem, with early findings feeding into the next Spending Review.
Health & Social Care
MacAlister Review — Rec 51
There should be a range of housing options open to young people transitioning out of care or who need to return, such as Staying Put, Staying Close and supported lodgings. Staying Put and Staying Close should be a legal entitlement and extended to age 23 with an ‘opt-out’ rather than …
Education
Corston Report — Rec 21
More supported bail placements for women suitable to their needs must be provided.
Justice & Legal
Shaw Detention Review — Rec 56
Recommendation 56: I recommend that the creation of care suites across the IRC estate should be taken forward as a priority.
Immigration
Shaw Detention Review — Rec 5
Recommendation 5: I recommend that the Home Office draw up plans either to close Cedars or to change its use as a matter of urgency.
Immigration
Carol Black Drugs Review (Part 2) — Rec 2
We recommend that the government invests, by the end of year 5 of this programme, an additional £552 million in the treatment system through DHSC and an additional £15 million in employment support through DWP. MHCLG will also need to bid for additional funds for housing support at the next …
Health & Social Care
Farmer Review (Women) — Rec 7
The Government to review regulations preventing children from living in Approved Premises. i. Women in Approved Premises or housed by Bail Accommodation Support Services with children who are struggling with parenting or other family and relationship issues to be encouraged to engage (voluntarily) with Early Help or Family Hubs, either …
Justice & Legal
MacAlister Review — Rec 52
Introduce a stronger safety net against care leaver homelessness by removing the local area connection test, ending intentionally homelessness practice, providing a rent guarantor scheme and increasing the leaving care grant to £2,438 for care experienced people.
Education
LGO / SPSO decisions(99)
22-002-448 — Kingston Upon Hull City Council
Summary: The Council was at fault for failing to deal with Mr X’s complaints of noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour in his supported accommodation. It was also at fault for failing to respond to his complaint at stage two of its process. The Council was not at fault in how …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Dec 2022
23-010-331 — Blackpool Borough Council
Summary: Mr D complained about the support provided to his daughter who lives in supported living accommodation. We found some fault in the Council’s service provision and communications. This resulted in some avoidable distress and frustration for Mr D and his daughter. The Council has accepted these findings and at …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Jul 2024
25-001-488 — Cordial Support Limited
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about anti-social behaviour from a neighbouring supported accommodation unit. This is because the complaint matters are not linked to personal care support.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Jul 2025
201204670 — The City of Edinburgh Council
Mr C's late aunt (Ms A) had been in hospital following a stroke, and was discharged to a nursing home. Mr C complained that council social workers did not give Ms A the chance to visit the nursing home before sending her there (even though the manager had offered to …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Upheld
Apr 2014
20-012-815 — West Sussex County Council
Summary: Mr B complained his supported housing provider did not repay him any money for the time he was not living in his flat between March and June 2020. There was no fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Not Upheld
Mar 2022
23-011-874b — NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB (23 011 874b)
Summary: Miss A complained about a council and care agency regarding her placement at supported accommodation. We found fault with the agency for the care it provided which led to risks to Miss A’s mental and physical health. The agency has carried out work to improve its care and will …
LGO (Local Government & …
Health
Not Upheld
Aug 2024
23-011-874a — Willow Care & Support Ltd (23 011 874a)
Summary: Miss A complained about a council and care agency regarding her placement at supported accommodation. We found fault with the agency for the care it provided which led to risks to Miss A’s mental and physical health. The agency has carried out work to improve its care and will …
LGO (Local Government & …
Health
Upheld
Aug 2024
23-020-000 — Sunderland City Council
Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission to change the use of a building from residential to supported accommodation. Mr X said this will reduce the value of his home, will impact on his family and the community, and fears anti-social behaviour from the residents. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
Sep 2024
24-019-916 — Nottingham City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about supported living. Further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
May 2025
24-021-716 — Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s treatment of a supported living provider. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Jun 2025
201203475 — Dundee City Council
Mrs C moved back to the council's area to care for family. She accepted the councils offer of an upper villa flat which had an intercom service to wardens in a nearby sheltered housing complex, although she was fit and active and had no need of the service. The council …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Not Upheld
Jul 2013
201707180 — Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership
Miss C complained about the level of communication provided by the partnership regarding the care of her father (Mr A). Mr A was moved from a rehabilitation centre to another tenancy, however, this property did not suit his needs and Mr A returned to the centre. Miss C, who has …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Health and Social Care
Upheld
Jun 2018
201805773 — Fife Health and Social Care Partnership
C complained on behalf of their child (A) who is an adult with incapacity. C complained that the partnership failed to reasonably safeguard A before and after a reported incident involving a support worker. We found that the partnership's commissioning of services for provision of care followed standard practice and …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Health and Social Care
Not Upheld
Jul 2020
PSOW-202401136 — Hafod Housing Association
Mrs A complained about how Hafod Housing Association dealt with her complaint about damage to her furniture, which she said had been ruined by damp in her house. The Ombudsman decided, that the Housing Association had repaired the leak, which was causing the damp. But that it had failed to …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
Jul 2024
20-010-984 — London Borough of Hackney
Summary: Ms X complained the Council allowed her to live as a property guardian in a property it owned in the knowledge there were serious disrepair issues. She also complained that when she reported her concerns, the Council ended its agreement with the property guardian company, which then started eviction …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Not Upheld
Jul 2022
22-005-387 — Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a supported-living facility proposal close to the complainant’s home. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is not enough evidence of fault …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Aug 2022
23-014-753 — London Borough of Bromley
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the handling of a rent account for supported accommodation. There is no good reason to investigate old events when the law says we should not, and we could not say the claimed injustice stems from the alleged faults or achieve more for …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Apr 2024
24-007-545 — Leeds City Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Ms B’s complaint about the Council’s maintenance of one of its properties. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by a council acting as a social landlord.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Aug 2024
24-017-051 — London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
Summary: Mrs B complained that the Council failed to take action to deal with anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance from an overcrowded property next door, which she believes is unlicensed. We have not found fault with the Council’s actions.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Not Upheld
Oct 2025
24-014-222 — Nottingham City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Ms B’s complaint that her property is being damaged due to the Council’s failure to maintain the adjoining property. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by a council in its role as a social landlord.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Nov 2024
24-014-266 — London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council has breached the terms of his leasing agreements with the Council providing temporary accommodation properties. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. It is …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Nov 2024
201101698 — Perth and Kinross Council
Mrs C's father (Mr A) lives in a very sheltered housing complex. Mrs C complained on behalf of Mr A about the council's entitlement to charge him for housing support services. Mrs C disagreed with the council's interpretation of legislation in relation to their ability to charge for services not …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Not Upheld
May 2012
24-017-695 — London Borough of Enfield
Mr M complained the Council has not responded in any meaningful way to his reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) by his neighbour, a council tenant, which includes persistent screaming and shouting at unsociable hours, threats, odours coming from his property, and possible drug abuse. Mr M says he feels unsafe …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Dec 2025
PSOW-202103239 — Coastal Housing Group Ltd
Mr A complained that his landlord Coastal Housing Group Ltd (“the Association”) had not acted and/or failed to keep him informed about his complaints of Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) was carried out by his neighbour, also an Association tenant. This included Mr A having been assaulted so he wanted the …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
Oct 2021
PSOW-202307444 — Valleys To Coast Housing
Ms G complained about outstanding repairs and the quality of repairs undertaken by Valleys To Coast Housing. Ms G also said her dining room table has been damaged. The Ombudsman found that the Association had incorrectly closed Ms G’s previous complaint. She said this caused frustration to Ms G. She …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
Feb 2024
PSOW-202308943 — Hafod Housing Association
Ms V complained that Hafod Housing Association had failed to resolve the various maintenance issues in her property and had not responded to the complaint she made to it in October 2023. The Ombudsman found that there had been a delay by the Association to rectify the problems in the …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
Feb 2024
PSOW-202308893 — Vale of Glamorgan Council
Mr T complained that Vale of Glamorgan Council failed to provide a stage 2 response to his complaint about possible asbestos. The Ombudsman found that the Council had received the stage two request, but due to miscommunication between the teams it had failed to respond. The Ombudsman said this caused …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Mar 2024
PSOW-202309098 — Valleys To Coast Housing
Mr M complained that Valleys To Coast Housing failed to undertake the necessary repairs to his property and had not responded or responded to his complaint which he made to it in November 2023. The Ombudsman found that whilst the Association had logged Mr M’s complaint and had taken some …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
Mar 2024
PSOW-202408991 — Hafod Housing Association
Miss A complained about repair issues at her home, which had been ongoing since early 2023. She complained that the property was full of black mould, windows were not properly secured, water was leaking through the roof and there was no insulation. Asbestos also needed to be replaced. Miss A …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
May 2025
23-019-575 — Birmingham City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to allow an application for Supported Exempted Accommodation for benefit purposes to the complainant’s organisation. We cannot determine points of law and only the courts can provide a remedy in these circumstances.
LGO (Local Government & …
Benefits And Tax
May 2024
202103742 — Milnbank Housing Association Ltd
C complained that the association did not respond reasonably to reports of anti-social behaviour. We found that there was a lack of consistency in the way that C’s reports of anti-social behaviour were recorded and indications that some incorrect information had been recorded in relation to C’s reports. The association’s …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Upheld
Oct 2022
202501408 — Albyn Housing Society Ltd
C complained about how the association had responded to reports of antisocial behaviour and remained dissatisfied at the conclusion of the association's complaint procedure. C sought an acknowledgement of failings, an apology and steps to be taken to ensure the association's handling of reports of antisocial behaviour was improved. The …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Mar 2026
NIPSO-201917436 — Choice Housing Association
We asked Choice Housing Association to review its Anti-Social Behaviour procedures, and to ensure its staff are aware of the importance of record keeping when conducting investigations into Anti-Social Behaviour.
NIPSO (NI Public Service…
Housing
Aug 2022
NIPSO-202400351 — Northern Ireland Housing Executive
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive failed to properly investigate a man’s complaint about anti-social behaviour.
NIPSO (NI Public Service…
Housing
Upheld
Dec 2025
PSOW-202106816 — Adra
Ms X complained about the response from Adra to a complaint she had made. She said that the response had been delayed and inadequate. Whilst Adra had provided a formal written response to the complaint, there was still an additional review stage in Adra’s complaints policy, and this had not …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
Mar 2022
PSOW-202206315 — Hafod Housing Association
Mr B complained that Hafod Housing Association had informed the Ombudsman that he had not made a complaint to it, but it had provided him with a complaint response. The Ombudsman found that the Association had provided inaccurate information to her office, and it had prematurely referred Mr B to …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
Jan 2023
PSOW-202300091 — Wales & West Housing Association
Mrs D complained that Wales & West Housing Association failed to provide a response to her Stage 2 complaint which she made in February 2023. The Ombudsman decided that whilst the Housing Association had provided regular and meaningful updates it had not issued a Stage 2 complaint response. She said …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
May 2023
PSOW-202501197 — Caredig
Miss X complained that Caredig failed to repair the leak from her upstairs neighbour’s balcony and that she had not received a complaint response. The Ombudsman found that the Association had attended the property to carry out remedial repairs to the balcony; however, it had failed to progress Miss X’s …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Jul 2025
21-018-819 — Westminster City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions as a social housing landlord refusing Mr X’s housing transfer request. This is because we have no remit to consider complaints about the Council’s actions when it is acting as a social housing landlord.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Mar 2022
21-018-844 — Westminster City Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about what happened to her social housing tenancy. This is because the complaint concerns the Council’s historic management of its social housing and so it lies outside our legal remit.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Apr 2022
22-005-367 — Slough Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to introduce a selective licensing scheme for privately rented properties. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Jul 2022
21-011-599 — Ashford Borough Council
Summary: Mr X complained the Council allowed a landlord on his estate to subdivide upwards of 20 properties without planning permission and turn them into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). We did not find fault with the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
Aug 2022
21-018-391 — Birmingham City Council
Summary: There was no fault in the way the Council dealt with Miss B’s concerns about her temporary accommodation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Not Upheld
Sep 2022
23-011-817 — Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Summary: Mr X complains the Council has not provided a sufficient remedy following delay in repairing faulty appliances in his temporary accommodation. We have concluded our investigation having made a finding of fault. There was delay in repairing the appliances and the Council has offered to make a further remedy …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Mar 2024
23-021-269 — London Borough of Waltham Forest
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council has delayed providing the complainant with a loft and kitchen conversion. This is because we cannot investigate a council when it is acting as a landlord.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
May 2024
23-020-560 — Isle of Wight Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the support provided by the Council’s supported living placement. This is because we could not add to the previous investigation completed by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
May 2024
24-002-242 — Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Ms B’s complaint about the Council removing her garden fence in response to the concerns of one of its tenants. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by a council acting as a social landlord.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
May 2024
24-005-231 — Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to provide information about care charges when he moved to supported living accommodation. The Council has already waived the care fees for the period before it provided costs information in their entirety and further investigation would not lead …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Aug 2024
24-006-623 — Basildon Borough Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council has told him he must remove the balcony from his flat. This is because the Council owns the freehold of the property and the complaint concerns its management of the property, which he owns on a long lease. Such actions …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Sep 2024
24-020-346 — London Borough of Bexley
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not providing financial support for a young person who declined to leave a supported living placement, which Miss X said led to her organisation incurring a significant financial cost. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council declining …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Apr 2025
Domestic Homicide Reviews(58)— showing 50 strongest matches
Sheffield — recommendation SCCHNS 1
The Housing and Neighbourhoods Service is in the process of developing a ‘tenancy ready course’ to help new tenants understand how to manage their tenancy with the help of a support worker. This will hopefully support vulnerable tenants and reduce incidents of non-engagement between the Housing and Neighbourhood Service and …
Sheffield City Council - Housing & …
Norfolk — recommendation O
Update tenancy information to ask tenants to update the council of any additional support needs they have, as this occurs.
Norwich City Council
Norwich City Council
Norfolk — recommendation N
Remind colleagues and partners of opportunity to request general access visits from the tenancy management team and when they might do so.
Norwich City Council
Norwich City Council
Gloucester — recommendation 3
Where a tenant has made statements that suggest vulnerabilities from visitors, GCH to undertake further post-letting informal contacts on a regular basis to help identify if there are further issues.
Gloucester City Housing
Gloucester — recommendation 2
GCH to put a ‘flag’ on the housing management systems to identify vulnerabilities/cautions concerning tenants to indicate that follow-up with an ASB officer is necessary to monitor safety.
Gloucester City Housing
Gloucester — recommendation 8
Probation services to work with housing providers to agree service level standards on response times following enquiries about offers of housing accommodation where there are concerns involving a particular individual or individuals. A process for escalating concerns to also be agreed.
BGSW CRC
Kent — recommendation 10
In considering the appropriateness of accommodation for persons leaving prison or detention centres, agencies involved should use their own risk assessment processes to determine the suitability of the premises in respect of the vulnerability of existing occupants. Information from risk assessments should be shared with other agencies.
Social Services | NPS | YOS …
National Probation Service
Kent — recommendation 9
Social Services have a responsibility to assist young adults leaving care, which will include helping them find suitable accommodation in which to live. In addition to establishing the accommodation is suitable for the care leaver, a risk assessment should also take place intended to identify safeguarding issues in relation to …
Kent Social Services | Medway Social …
Kent — recommendation 4
Housing providers should undertake a risk assessment when they are aware that someone has moved into a property with a potentially vulnerable tenant.
East Kent Housing | Thanet District …
Thanet District Council
Bristol — recommendation 8
Risk Management: Non-acceptance of referral for perpetrator to same supported housing service when victim is still in residence.
BCHA
Bournemouth Churches Housing Association …
Bristol — recommendation 7
Ensure a Trauma Informed Approach in all Supported Housing Services
BCHA
Bournemouth Churches Housing Association …
Plymouth — recommendation 3
Housing providers in the Plymouth should review and amend policy and practice to ensure best practice around domestic abuse is adhered to across the City. This will include promotion of DAHA accreditation and working towards a ‘Whole Housing Approach’.
Housing providers in Plymouth
Sheffield — recommendation 4.1.5.3
The use of Supported Family Accommodation for families with a history of a former failed tenancy is recommended as good practice and to be continued to be used.
Sheffield City Council Housing Solutions
Exeter — recommendation R3
Review the nature and level of public agency commissioning of accommodation and associated support services for vulnerable adults in Devon to ensure appropriate facilities are available to meet needs safely at a choice of locations. (#364-#365)
Devon County Council | Devon Partnership …
Devon County Council
Somerset — recommendation 4
Strengthen housing options team’s understanding of when to share information with social landlords (eg SHAL) and similar around risk to joint tenancy issues
Sedgemoor District Council
Sedgemoor District Council
Somerset — recommendation 3
Strengthen housing options team’s understanding of when to share information with social landlords (eg SHAL and similar) around risk to child neglect.
Sedgemoor District Council
Sedgemoor District Council
Lambeth — recommendation 3.1
SHP to review the priority and allocations system within the Lambeth Tenancy Support Team.
Single Homelessness Project
Wycombe — recommendation 7
Review the current tenancy sign up process, to include home visits to improve the process for both tenants and Red Kite.
Red Kite Housing
Isle of Wight — recommendation 6.11
That Sovereign Housing examines how it enables tenants to report to them concerns around crime and anti social behaviour connected with their or another’s tenancy so as to ensure there is clarity and confidence in the reporting mechanisms such that Sovereign are aware of the range and nature of behaviour …
Sovereign Housing
Kirklees — recommendation 8
That KNH look into enabling a system prompt to ensure that failed initial tenancy visits are followed up with further communication with the tenant, to ensure appropriate welfare checks are made as appropriate.
Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing
Salford — recommendation 3
To investigate with housing providers what housing options are available in these circumstances and what the process is to apply.
Community Safety Partnership | Salford Safeguarding …
Safeguarding Adults Board
Hammersmith and Fulham — recommendation WLT5
The appropriate MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) function should be engaged in considering and progressing housing requirements of service users.
West London NHS Trust
West London NHS Trust
Barking and Dagenham — recommendation 19
Where a vulnerable tenant has been identified by a housing officer they should discuss this with their manager as to the required frequency of the next tenancy audit. Discussion should focus upon at least annual visits unless evidence suggest that this is not required.
Housing Department
Bristol — recommendation 18.1.1b
The rent management service CCSS form to be reviewed to ensure relevant further questions are being sought with the customer. This is so that the form is doing as it was created and intended; to act as a method to support tenancy sustainment going forward with the tenant.
Bristol City Council Housing and Landlord …
Manchester — recommendation 8.3
It is recommended there be a facilitated discussion with the relevant partner Housing Providers concerning any further initiative-taking measures that Housing Providers can take through their housing management processes, to ensure that vulnerable tenants are safe.
Housing Providers
Lincoln — recommendation i)
Staff within the Hostel need to be confident in their responsibility to report disclosures of concern robustly and consistently. The service has evidence of regularly reporting safeguarding concerns appropriately, however, in this case staff felt reassured by (1) how the perpetrator presented within the service and (2) the response from …
Salvation Army
Lincoln — recommendation 1
Whilst learning has been identified in terms of how practitioner practice could be improved in terms of multiagency working; it remains unclear as to why Probation services were not involved in the Child in Need process or whether the concerns of the supported housing provider were shared and acted on. …
Probation Service
Probation Service
Bristol — recommendation 28
Process for people moving on from supported into council stock to include the Housing Officer and floating support worker making contact to establish relationship and ensure joint engagement with new tenant.
Bournemouth Borough Council – Strategic Housing …
Kent — recommendation 10
In considering the appropriateness of accommodation for persons leaving prison or detention centres, agencies involved should use their own risk assessment processes to determine the suitability of the premises in respect of the vulnerability of existing occupants. Information from risk assessments should be shared with other agencies.
Social Services | NPS | YOS …
National Probation Service
Kent — recommendation 9
Social Services have a responsibility to assist young adults leaving care, which will include helping them find suitable accommodation in which to live. In addition to establishing the accommodation is suitable for the care leaver, a risk assessment should also take place intended to identify safeguarding issues in relation to …
Kent Social Services | Medway Social …
Kent — recommendation 4
Housing providers should undertake a risk assessment when they are aware that someone has moved into a property with a potentially vulnerable tenant.
East Kent Housing | Thanet District …
Thanet District Council
Chorley and South Ribble — recommendation 1.1
Chorley and South Ribble Community Safety Partnership (CSP) should be assured that the learning from this review is incorporated into the work currently being undertaken to ensure compliance with regulations to improve the conditions for residents accommodated in homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs).
Chorley and South Ribble Community Safety …
Croydon — recommendation AA
That the online application for Housing Register cases is reviewed and question added to ask the applicant if they are experiencing any kind of abuse. That a question is added to ask if the applicant feels safe in their home environment. That a section is added for other information to …
London Borough of Croydon Housing Services
Tower Hamlets — recommendation 4
Clarion Housing to review its new tenancy starter information to include information on domestic violence and abuse.
Clarion Housing
Tower Hamlets — recommendation 3
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to review the learning from this case and issue appropriate guidance nationally to ensure housing providers can be informed of safeguarding concerns at the tenancy nomination stage.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local …
Ministry of Housing, Communities …
Somerset — recommendation 17
SHAL Housing and similar housing providers to promote the availability of resources and training to improve understanding of “professional curiosity”
SHAL Housing
Somerset — recommendation 15
SHAL Housing should develop a policy to support a ‘See something Say something’ style of reporting by those in frontline services.
SHAL Housing
Croydon — recommendation 6.1.5.g
Review Croydon Housing Needs procedures for eviction of leaving care clients. In this case, Croydon procedures were followed, however it is recommended that Croydon Housing Needs carries out a further review of procedures for eviction of vulnerable clients to ensure procedures are up to date and comply with current procedures.
London Borough of Croydon Housing Services
London Borough of Croydon
Basildon
Incomes policy to include referral to floating support provider after rent arrears have been triggered at first formal stage.
Family Mosaic
Wiltshire — recommendation 3
Introduce a pre-tenancy process, to provide more information about prospective tenants.
Curo Housing
Castle Point — recommendation 6
Whilst recognising the acute shortage of social housing in the Borough, greater consideration should be given to the risk factors associated with an (ex) offender, and their licence conditions should be taken into account when allocating and managing housing to ensure the safety of existing tenants and any vulnerable adults. …
Castle Point Borough Council Housing Department
Cornwall — recommendation Primary Care IMR 4
Consideration of any enhancement to medical notes/information transfer where individuals are known to be homeless/in supported lodgings.
The GP Surgery (Cornwall)
Tower Hamlets — recommendation 1
Registered Providers of Social Housing should consider the ‘Whole Housing Toolkit’ and Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation to improve their responses to victims of domestic abuse, in particular to highlight possible indicators of financial/domestic abuse and improve awareness of the support available
Registered Providers of Social Housing
Bristol — recommendation 3
It is recommended that the current proposals to integrate housing and domestic abuse support services are commissioned and implemented.
Bristol City Council Housing and Landlord …
Fenland — recommendation 7
Clarion Housing to revise the Homelink housing application to include the applicant to comment on ‘You or a member of your household needs to move away from another area to escape violence or harm.’
Clarion Housing
Bristol — recommendation 18.1.1a
Training to ensure that officers know how and when to update occupant lists within Civica Cx (new BCC H&LS management system) for tenancy records and the importance of doing so in relation to financial impact on the tenant and in terms of managing tenancies/ homes. Also, confirm that all officers …
Bristol City Council Housing and Landlord …
Basildon — recommendation 11.5.4
That services commissioned by Essex County Council to provide semi-independent accommodation, include a requirement for all staff to be trained in domestic abuse, emotional wellbeing, and trauma.
Essex County Council – Children’s Social …
Lincoln — recommendation ii)
Further training is being delivered to staff at the Hostel in reporting concerns and will be monitored through regular service reviews.
Salvation Army
Doncaster — recommendation 19.2.11
Review of procedures regarding the residents within Dioceses properties.
Sheffield Diocese
Chorley and South Ribble — recommendation 3
Consider retention and discharge processes especially where service users are living in unsuitable accommodation.
Discover Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service