Lambeth council ordered to pay woman at risk of domestic abuse over housing delays

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

A town hall has been ordered to pay a domestic violence victim £1,300 after delays in rehousing her even though she was at risk of more abuse.

Police warned Lambeth council the woman, known only as Ms X, needed to be moved in December 2021.

But officials didn’t find her a new home until May 2022, after she declined an initial property due to its location. Ms X said she wasn’t properly informed about the consequences of declining the house.

The Local Government Ombudsman, which regulates councils, said Lambeth’s delays in rehousing Ms X meant she spent five months living in a property where she was at risk of further violence.

In emails with the woman, Lambeth council blamed the delays on shortages of temporary housing. The ombudsman said the council needed to find a solution to the lack of supply of temporary housing.

The report added that, on moving to her new temporary housing in May last year, Ms X complained that it was unsuitable and asked the council to review the accommodation. Lambeth has delayed doing so.

The ombudsman ordered the council to reach a decision on the suitability of her new house and if it is found unsuitable to “move Ms X without delay.”

It ordered Lambeth to pay her £200 per month backdated to May until she is moved to alternative accommodation, if her current property is found unsuitable.

A spokesman for Lambeth council said: “Lambeth is facing a severe housing crisis, which means that over 35,000 people are on the council’s waiting list for social housing.

“Every night, the council provides temporary accommodation for over 3,500 homeless families, at a cost of over £10 million a year, because of the huge gap between the level of demand for accommodation and the government’s failure to support the building of new homes.

“We do everything we can to find the most suitable accommodation available for homeless families, in the face of a severe shortage of affordable housing.

“We have fully accepted the ombudsman’s findings in this case and, in line with the judgement, we have apologised and paid compensation to Ms X in recognition of the distress, frustration and risk she has experienced.”

Pictured top: Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton (Picture: Google Street View)