"A mother and her three young children were forced to live in their car for six months following a series of serious failings by Croydon Council, according to a government watchdog. Among the council's failings was an offer of emergency accommodation more than 250 miles from their local area, despite being aware of the mother's caring responsibilities. In a decision issued in March, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) found that the young family continues to suffer the physical, emotional and psychological impact of their ordeal."
"When the family was made homeless via a Section 21 no fault' eviction notice in August 2025, Croydon Council housing officers offered to relocate them to another town 250 miles away. The council argued that the mother referred to in the official report as Miss X was not working enough hours to qualify for local support. However, their offer ignored the fact that Miss X was a carer for her own mother a detail already recorded on the council's system."
"After refusing the property due to its location, the family was left entirely without housing assistance from August 2025 until January 2026. During this period, Miss X said that she and her children were forced to sleep in their car. According to the ombudsman, Miss X and her three children experienced severe distress during this extended period of uncertainty."
"Following a referral to the ombudsman in December 2025, the watchdog found that Croydon failed in its legal duty to prevent the family's homelessness when first presented with an eviction notice in December 2024. Housing officers then exacerbated Miss X's situation by taking 14 weeks to process a housing review and delaying their initial complaint response by 67 working days. In their decision, delivered on March 13, the LGO concluded that Croydon's actions caused the family severe physical, emotional and psychological distress."
A mother and her three young children lived in their car for six months after Croydon Council failed to provide suitable housing support. The family became homeless following a Section 21 no-fault eviction notice in August 2025. Housing officers offered emergency accommodation more than 250 miles away, despite knowing the mother’s caring responsibilities. After the family refused the distant property, they received no housing assistance from August 2025 until January 2026 and slept in their car. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found Croydon breached its legal duty when the eviction notice was first presented in December 2024. The council also delayed processing a housing review and delayed responding to the complaint, worsening the family’s distress. The council was ordered to pay £7,700 and take further actions.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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