ao link
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In

You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles

East Midlands council reviewing allocations policy following ombudsman investigation

A Lincolnshire council is reviewing its allocations policy after being rapped by an ombudsman for barring a couple wanting to care for an elderly relative from joining its housing waiting list.

Linked InTwitterFacebookeCard
The ombudsman concluded the council’s policy does not consider the needs of people with disabilities when dismissing caregivers’ claims to a local connection (picture: Getty)
The ombudsman concluded the council’s policy does not consider the needs of people with disabilities when dismissing caregivers’ claims to a local connection (picture: Getty)
Sharelines

An East Midlands council is reviewing allocations policy following an investigation by an ombudsman #UKHousing

A Lincolnshire council is reviewing its allocations policy after being rapped by @LGOmbudsman for barring a couple wanting to care for an elderly relative from joining its housing waiting list #UKHousing

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman this week found East Lindsey District Council’s policy for allocating social housing to have breached the public sector equality duty.

The ombudsman looked into the policy after receiving a complaint from a couple prevented from joining the council’s waiting list because they did not meet local connection criteria, even though they wanted to care for an elderly relative living in East Lindsey.

It concluded that the policy does not consider the needs of people with disabilities when dismissing caregivers’ claims to a local connection.


READ MORE

Jewish housing association’s allocation policy deemed legal by Supreme CourtJewish housing association’s allocation policy deemed legal by Supreme Court
Large Northern housing association changes allocation policy to support those in priority needLarge Northern housing association changes allocation policy to support those in priority need
Lockdown 2.0: the housing policies and how they have changed from the first timeLockdown 2.0: the housing policies and how they have changed from the first time

Local government and social care ombudsman Michael King said: “While councils have some freedom to decide the criteria on who qualifies for their housing register, they must also act in line with legal requirements in the Housing Act 1996, and cannot disqualify whole groups of people who would otherwise have priority.

“In this case, the problems I have found meant the couple missed the opportunity to have their application considered properly.

“And because there is a high number of older people living in the district, this may have also unfairly affected other people, too.

“I am pleased the council has agreed to examine its policy in light of my findings and reconsider the couple’s application.”

The ombudsman told the council to apologise to the couple and reconsider their application following the investigation. It also recommended that it review its allocations scheme and all similar cases since October 2019.

Michelle Howard, assistant director for housing and well-being at East Lindsey Council, said: “We are in the process of reviewing and amending our housing allocations policy in light of the complaint that was received and the ombudsman’s finding to allow people to move to the area to provide support in some circumstances.

“We have a high demand for properties in the area and the policy provides the framework for how the allocations are made, including the prioritisation to those most in need.

“We have apologised to the complainant and have committed to reassess their housing register application in line with the revised policy.

“We are also contacting any other applicants impacted by the policy position to invite them to request a reassessment of their application.”

Sign up for our Council Focus newsletter

Sign up for our Council Focus newsletter