Enfield Council pays family after housing ‘failure’

A north London council has been asked to pay at least £2,300 to a disabled mother and her son following an almost year-long delay in finding them suitable temporary accommodation.

The family declared themselves homeless in July 2023 and Enfield Council accepted that it needed to find them suitable temporary accommodation.

A report by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the council failed to provide the family with temporary accommodation for nine months and counting.

A spokesperson for Enfield Council said it accepted the ombudsman’s findings, adding that the council “continues to experience unprecedented demand from homeless families”.

The mother – referred to as Mrs X in the report – had mobility issues and her son attended a special school.

The report stated that by September 2023, the council accepted it had delayed arranging a home visit, completing a homelessness assessment and providing an accurate personal housing plan (PHP).

In November, a list of possible properties were sent to Mrs X, however she would have needed to view the properties, something her disabilities made “almost impossible” as she “could not leave the house unaided”, the report said.

She filed a formal complaint about the way her case had been handled, and the council subsequently acknowledged fault.

Communication had been “poor”, according to the ombudsman report.

The council agreed the council had “failed” to respond to Mrs X within the “agreed timescale”, adding that the initial PHP was “misleading”.

The council accepted main housing duty in January 2024, apologized to Mrs X and offered her £1,000.

She had not received the money at the time of the watchdog’s report in May.

As part of its agreed actions with the ombudsman the council must now pay Mrs X £1,800, recognizing the time she and her son have lived in unsuitable accommodation; pay her £200 a month for every month this remains the case; and pay her £500 to recognize the distress caused.

An Enfield Council spokesperson said: “We still have a significant lack of affordable housing in London and the South East and there are but a handful of properties in Enfield that are suitable for those with additional needs.

“As noted by the ombudsman, the council is reviewing temporary accommodation procurement methods with a view to increasing supply.”