The woman and her two children – one less than two years old, and the other born while she was living in tempoary accommodation – were housed by the council in two different bed and breakfast hotels from April 1999 until February 2002, after she was evicted from private housing.
While staying at the first hotel, her purse was snatched, a man entered her room at night and threatened her and she was burgled twice.
The woman claimed she reported these incidents to Westminster, but it had no written records of her doing so.
The ombudsman found that the council breached the law by failing to notify the woman of her right to request a review of the suitability of the accommodation – delaying her move to a more suitable room by seven months.
He also found that the council unreasonably delayed her claims for housing benefit in respect of her accommodation at both hotels, and that the notification of her need to renew her claim was inadequate.
Westminster has apologised to the complainant and said that it will pay the compensation.
It also confirmed that it had amended its procedures. Letters have been amended to advise clients of their rights, and the use of the first hotel for homeless applicants ceased in May last year.
The woman and her children are now living in a housing association home.
Source
Housing Today
No comments yet