Brighton & Hove City Council: the register
Ruling 23 015 251
Folio 157
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
-
The Council was at fault for failing to have due regard to Ms X’s rights before ending her occupation of a property as a property guardian. The Council was also at fault for failures in its homelessness service, not providing interpreting and translation services and not meeting costs it promised to pay. The Council has agreed to remedy the injustice to Ms X by making payments and acting to improve its services.
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 | ApologyApologised |
Done before the decision | None | Not applicable | ||
| 2 | PaymentAgreed to pay Ms X £500, being £200 for the time and trouble caused by its poor complaint handling and £300 for the distress and uncertainty caused by the missed opportunity to review and appeal the homelessness decision |
No deadline stated | £500.00 | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 3 | Service changeProduced a policy on translation and interpreting |
Done before the decision | None | Not applicable | ||
| 4 | Service changeProvided training to its officers on it case management standards, including deciding if an application is withdrawn. |
Done before the decision | None | Not applicable | ||
| 5 | ApologyApologise for the further faults identified in this decisionDeadline as worded: within six weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 27 August 2025. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 6 | Action for the personInvite Ms X to provide a copy of her tenancy and proof she paid a deposit and rent in advanceDeadline as worded: within six weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 27 August 2025. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 7 | PaymentOn receiving such evidence, pay Ms X the amount of the deposit and rent in advanceDeadline as worded: within six weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 27 August 2025. Outcome not published. | Amount not stated | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 8 | PaymentPay Ms X £500 for the injustice caused by failing to have due regard to her rightsDeadline as worded: within six weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 27 August 2025. Outcome not published. | £500.00 | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 9 | PaymentPay Ms X a further £250 in recognition of the distress caused by failing to provide suitable interim accommodation and failing to consider its duty to protect her propertyDeadline as worded: within six weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 27 August 2025. Outcome not published. | £250.00 | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| 10 | Service changeUpdate its case management standards to include guidance for officers on the Council’s duty to protect the property of homeless applicants and share this with relevant staff.Deadline as worded: within six weeks of my final decision |
Deadline passed 27 August 2025. Outcome not published. | None | No outcome published by the ombudsman | ||
| Stated payments ordered | £1,250.00 | Outcomes published by the ombudsman: none | ||||