Council attacked after homeless elderly couple forced to live apart

The Local Government Ombudsman has sharply criticised a London council after an elderly, disabled couple who found themselves homeless “were forced to live apart and in unsuitable temporary accommodation”.

The couple, who had been living with their son and his family, were made homeless by their landlord.

They contacted the London Borough of Newham as a family, but the council said the only temporary accommodation immediately available was in Birmingham.

The couple refused the offer, saying it was not suitable for their needs. The woman is in her 70s and the man in his 80s. Both have severe mobility problems.

The family split and stayed with relatives in east London.

According to the LGO report, Newham eventually found the family temporary accommodation in a neighbouring borough. However, the man was unable to move in because he could not climb the 14 steps to access the flat and had to live with other relatives.

The flat had no shower and as the woman could not use a bath, she was forced to strip wash instead for the ten weeks the family lived there.

The family instructed a solicitor who threatened the council with legal proceedings. Newham then found more suitable accommodation.

The Ombudsman has now recommended that the local authority:

  • pay the couple  £750 “to recognise the distress and hardship they and their family have suffered”;
  • remind its staff who deal with homelessnes to issue clear decision letters. Random sampling will be undertaken to make sure this is done;
  • review its working practices “to ensure that it offers priority appointments to applicants who are elderly or disabled and have a confirmed eviction date”; and
  • improve its procedures for assessing the suitability of accommodation for people with disabilities.

Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman, said: “This family was given Hobson’s choice when it came to accepting the accommodation they were offered. They had the choice of something unsuitable or nothing at all.

“While I appreciate the difficult circumstances some councils find themselves in with the lack of availability of emergency accommodation, authorities do need to make sure that the accommodation they offer to people is suitable for their needs.”