A desperate mother-of-two facing eviction was denied access to Salford council's lettings register on the grounds she was working from home - even though the policy disqualifying her on that basis was not yet active. 'Ms X' has had a complaint against Salford town hall - over the way it handled her application for housing - upheld by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
They also ruled the authority did not properly consider her request on medical grounds for an additional bedroom, delayed responding to her complaint and that the suspension of her application to join its lettings scheme was 'flawed'.
The Ombudsman found fault with the council which has agreed to pay the woman a total of £400 and to ‘remedy the injustice identified’.
The Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities set out powers and duties councils have towards people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
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