Council's Ombudsman criticizes Ealing Council for failing to fix family's broken windows in their apartment.
In a recent turn of events, Ealing Council in London has come under scrutiny for housing a young homeless family in an unsuitable apartment for nearly 18 months. The family was living in an eleventh-floor flat with faulty windows, leaks, dampness, mould, and exposed electrical cables.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) criticised Ealing Council for leaving the family in a tenth-floor flat with faulty windows for nearly 18 months. The Ombudsman's investigation found that the council was not properly recording the actions it was taking to secure alternative temporary accommodation.
The family had expressed concerns about their children living in such conditions, prompting them to complain to the Ombudsman when they were not satisfied with the council's response to their concerns. The council's actions have also been criticised for the delay in finding suitable accommodation for the family.
The Ombudsman's investigation further revealed that the family's temporary accommodation was not suitable and was beset with disrepair issues. Nigel Ellis, chief executive of the LGSCO, stated that councils must ensure that the accommodation they provide is suitable, despite the difficulties they face.
In response to the criticism, Ealing Council has agreed to apologise to the family and pay them £3,400 for the 17 months they lived in unsuitable accommodation with disrepair issues. The council will also review its record keeping procedures to develop a system of recording actions taken to find accommodation for individual applicants seeking temporary accommodation.
The council's review will focus on finding a system to track actions taken for each individual applicant, ensuring that no family is left in unsuitable conditions for extended periods. The Ombudsman has also asked the council to consider remedying any complaints of injustice to the other 31 households on its transfer list for temporary accommodation.
Tim Arterbury, the photographer for the associated image, captured the family's living conditions, highlighting the urgent need for action. Ealing Council has been in the limelight after it was found that the local authority failed to respond to a housing complaint, leaving a resident living in poor conditions.
This incident serves as a reminder for councils to prioritise the welfare of their residents, especially those in vulnerable situations. The LGSCO has emphasised the importance of councils ensuring that the accommodation they provide is suitable and maintaining accurate records of actions taken to secure alternative accommodation for families in need.
