Brighton & Hove City Council: the register
Ruling 23 013 772
Folio 247
Finding: Fault found
- Finding recorded by the ombudsman
- Upheld
- Service
- Housing: Homelessness
- Council
- Brighton & Hove City Council
- Body
- Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
- Decided
- Summary
-
Mx Y complains the Council mishandled their homelessness application and placed them in unsuitable interim accommodation. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council’s handling of the homelessness application. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mx Y and pay a financial remedy.
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 Mx Y and apologise for the fault identified above. The Council should give due regard to our guidance on making an effective apology.Deadline as worded: Within four weeks |
Deadline passed 26 September 2024. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 2 | PaymentPay Mx Y £350 in recognition of the distress and uncertainty caused by the Council’s mishandling of the application.Deadline as worded: Within four weeks |
Deadline passed 26 September 2024. Outcome not published. | £350.00 | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 3 | PaymentPay 50% of Mx Y’s accommodation costs for the week they were without suitable interim accommodation between 28th September 2023 and 5th October 2023. I have not recommended 100% of costs as Mx Y would have incurred costs for rent in any interim accommodation.Deadline as worded: Within four weeks |
Deadline passed 26 September 2024. Outcome not published. | Amount not stated | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 4 | Service changeRemind staff of the guidance for closing cases due to non-engagementDeadline as worded: Within twelve weeks |
Deadline passed 21 November 2024. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 5 | Service changeRemind staff of the Council's responsibility to provide interim accommodation at the outset, and when 'homeless at home' arrangements may be suitable for an applicant and the correct process to follow, if there is reason to believe an application may be in priority need.Deadline as worded: Within twelve weeks |
Deadline passed 21 November 2024. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| Stated payments ordered | £350.00 | Outcomes published by the ombudsman: none | ||||