Brighton & Hove City Council: the register
Ruling 21 011 385
Folio 404
Finding: Fault found
- Finding recorded by the ombudsman
- Upheld
- Service
- Housing: Other
- Council
- Brighton & Hove City Council
- Body
- Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
- Decided
- Summary
-
Miss X complains the Council delayed deciding her mother’s homelessness application and placed her family in unsuitable accommodation. Miss X says this caused her and her family significant distress and caused them to live in unsuitable accommodation for longer than necessary. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for failing to explore whether Miss X’s mother was entitled to further support, and for delaying its decision about its housing duty. The Ombudsman also finds fault with the Council for failing to consider the suitability of the temporary accommodation it offered. The Council has agreed a financial remedy and service improvements.
Summary as published by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Remedies
Words in quotation marks are quoted from the ombudsman’s decision.
States worked out on 9 October 2026.
The ombudsman publishes no entry for a remedy.
| Ordered | Outcome publishedThe ombudsman publishes no entry for a remedy. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | What was ordered | Deadline | Payment | Date | Entry | Payment |
| 1 | ApologyWrite to Miss X and her mother and apologise for the fault identified.Deadline as worded: Within 4 weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 26 July 2022. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 2 | PaymentPay Miss X’s mother £1200. This is calculated at £150 per month for the eight month delay caused by the Council.Deadline as worded: Within 4 weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 26 July 2022. Outcome not published. | £1,200.00 | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 3 | PaymentThe Council should also pay Miss X’s mother £300 in recognition of the uncertainty about whether the family should have received more support to stay in their home.Deadline as worded: Within 4 weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 26 July 2022. Outcome not published. | £300.00 | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 4 | PaymentThe Council should pay Miss X £200 in recognition of the time and trouble caused to her by pursuing this complaint.Deadline as worded: Within 4 weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 26 July 2022. Outcome not published. | £200.00 | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 5 | Service changeReview how it decides what support should be provided to those fleeing domestic violence who wish to stay in their home.Deadline as worded: Within 12 weeks of the final decision |
Deadline passed 20 September 2022. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 6 | Service changeReview how can make service improvements to ensure that homelessness assessments are completed in a timely manner.Deadline as worded: Within 12 weeks of the final decision |
Deadline passed 20 September 2022. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 7 | Service changeReview how it documents its decision-making process when considering the suitability of interim and temporary accommodation.Deadline as worded: Within 12 weeks of the final decision |
Deadline passed 20 September 2022. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| Stated payments ordered | £1,700.00 | Outcomes published by the ombudsman: none | ||||