Mark Whitehead 01 August 2024

Lewisham apologises over family placed in poor accommodation

Lewisham apologises over family placed in poor accommodation image
Image: Nigel J. Harris/shutterstock.com

Lewisham Council has apologised for placing a family in such poor accommodation that a child had to go to hospital.

The London borough has agreed to pay her more than £14,000 after the local government ombudsman ruled it had handled the mother's case badly.

The ombudsman said the council had failed to properly consider the mother's priority on its housing register for permanent social housing despite the fact that she was disabled and pregnant at the time.

It failed to properly consider her human rights or its duties to her under The Equality Act, the ombudsman said, and did not consider or respond to her concerns about accommodation being close to a perpetrator of domestic abuse towards her.

The family lived in unsuitable accommodation for two years and faced continued instability, with frequent short term moves between multiple bed and breakfasts, often with no notice.

A council spokesman said: 'We have accepted the ombudsman’s recommendations in this case and apologise unreservedly to the resident and her family.

'We expect our housing, whether managed directly by us or leased from the private sector, to be properly maintained, and we are sorry this was not the experience of this family.'

Designing for cohesion image

Designing for cohesion

Tom Fairey, Development Director at Alliance Leisure, discusses how community spaces can strengthen local connections.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Finance Assistant - Banking, Controls & Reconciliation

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum
Finance Assistant - Banking, Controls & Reconciliation Fixed Term, Full Time£25,081 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Park Operations Assistant

Essex County Council
Up to £25959.00 per annum
Park Operations AssistantPermanent, Part Time£25,959 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Science Teacher

Durham County Council
£32,916 - £51,048
Science Teacher M1- UPS3 £32,916 - £51,048 Permanent, Full time Required as soon as possible The Woodlands EHN Team is seeking to appoint a qualified Ferryhill
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Hospitality and Catering Instructor

Durham County Council
£27,663 - £37,875 Instructor Scale B
WHAT IS INVOLVED? The team at Aycliffe Secure Centre provide a caring, trauma informed and aspirational environment for young people aged between 10 a Newton Aycliffe
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lawyer Contracts and Procurement

Durham County Council
£47,181 to £51,356 p.a. (Grade 13)
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Contracts and Procurement Lawyer to work at Durham County Council as part of the Legal and Democratic Service Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner