Miss X reported to Waltham Forest for temporary housing due to safety concerns, being threatened by an alleged attacker. Despite being deemed eligible for assistance, the council delayed her relocation for months and offered substandard accommodation. The Housing Ombudsman identified faults in the council's handling of her case, particularly in delaying the offer of housing and not checking property conditions. This resulted in Miss X missing opportunities to rent affordable private flats. The council was ordered to compensate her for the distress and time lost without adequate housing support.
Miss X's vulnerability was not addressed promptly by Waltham Forest, which delayed her move to safe accommodation despite recognizing her situation as a priority.
The ombudsman criticized Waltham Forest for failing to check the condition of offered accommodation and missing opportunities to secure housing for Miss X quickly.
Due to the substantial housing shortage, Miss X faced difficulties despite finding affordable private rentals, which were rented out while her requests were being processed.
There is a critical need for local authorities to streamline their housing assessment processes to avoid causing prolonged distress to residents in immediate risk.
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