Westminster city chiefs pay fine and apologise after failing to re-house terrified mum still getting threats

By Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter

A family have been left terrified in their home because a London council did not move them to safety after their mother was attacked.

The mum was attacked while staying in temporary accommodation in Westminster in May 2020 – she is yet to be moved to a new location.

Westminster City Council has now apologised and paid the victim £1,800 for its failure to act.

Since the first attack nearly two years ago, the victim and her children have continued to receive threats.

An Ombudsmen report revealed the Council took no action to solve the issue until December 2020.

It then added the victim, named only as Ms X in the report, to its temporary accommodation transfer list but still did not move them out of the property.

The report said: “Ms X told the Council she was assaulted near her home. She said this made her feel unsafe in the property.

“The Council decided that as the assault was an isolated incident, there was no continuing risk of violence to Ms X that would make her temporary accommodation unsuitable.

“In October [2020], Ms X reported threats of further violence to both her and one of her children.

“The Council took no action until December, when it added Ms X to its Temporary Accommodation Transfer List.

“The Council accepted that Ms X’s current temporary accommodation was unsuitable.”

In August 2021, the council offered Ms X alternative accommodation in a neighbouring borough.

But she refused the accommodation as it was too far for her disabled daughter to travel to school.

Westminster City Council apologised to Ms X and paid her £150 for every month she was in unsuitable accommodation until August 2021 for a total of £1,500.

The council paid Ms X an additional £300 for causing her avoidable distress.

The report explains that Ms X has had to live in temporary accommodation after being made homeless in 2004.

The report also highlighted that residents are being forced to move into temporary accommodation outside of the borough.

The council has a limited housing supply – particularly for four and five-bedroom homes.

The Ombudsman revealed there are only 47 four or five-bedroom properties in the borough that Westminster City Council can move larger families to if they need temporary accommodation.

The council has access to 75 five-bedroom homes and 218 four-bedroom homes in total, but 246 of these homes are outside Westminster.

Westminster City Council has been contacted for comment.

Pictured: Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street