Bromley council ‘failed to act quickly enough’ when vulnerable woman applied for new home

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Correspondent

A mother of three children who was allegedly assaulted while waiting for a council house has been told her complaint was justified.

The local government ombudsman ruled that Bromley council failed to act quickly enough when the woman applied to be deemed homeless, in a bid to be re-located to a new home away from a former abuser.

The Ombudsman’s report says the woman, whose three young children all have mental health issues, first applied as homeless to Bromley council in January 2018.

The woman, whose name is given as “Miss D”, told the council she had to leave her housing association flat because a former abuser lived nearby.

A council officer advised her to ask the housing association to transfer her to a new property.

She next called Bromley council again in May 2018, saying she had been attacked at the home as her three children watched.

Council officers found a two-bedroom, top floor flat – but the home was unsuitable for the family-of-four and caused them stress and behaviour problems, as well as difficulties in taking them to school.

It wasn’t until March 2019 that the council accepted she was homeless and offered the family temporary accommodation, saying it would make her a direct offer for a three-bedroom home when one became available.

In ruling, the Ombudsman agreed the two-bedroom property was not overcrowded by law – but found fault with the delay in making a decision on Miss D’s application.

“Although there is no statutory timescale, it took the council a year to make a homelessness decision. This is more than seven times longer than recommended in the Code and is a fault,” the report states.

He added there was no evidence the council had researched whether Miss D would be at risk from violence if she stayed at the original property.

The council has said it would apologise for the delay, and make an offer when a suitable property becomes available – which the Ombudsman ruled would “remedy the injustice caused”.

In a statement, a spokesman for Bromley council said: “The council apologises for any inconvenience caused to Miss D by its delay.

“We were unable to source a suitable three-bedroom house as requested by Miss D despite considering 14 properties and had to offer a two-bed instead.

“We are glad the Ombudsman found no fault with the council in this. We have agreed to make a direct offer as soon as a suitable property becomes available.”