Southwark Council (202431046)

Background

1. The resident was offered temporary accommodation. She complained to the landlord about the condition of the property, and that she would need help to decorate it.

What the complaint is about

2. The complaint is about the landlord’s handling of a request to pay decorating costs.

Our decision (determination)

3. After considering the evidence, we have found that the complaint is outside our jurisdiction. As a result, we have not investigated it.

Reasons

4. We are not free to investigate all complaints referred to us. What we can and cannot consider is set out in the Housing Ombudsman Scheme (the Scheme). For us to investigate the complaint, we must be satisfied that the matter has been referred to the correct Ombudsman.
5. The resident complained to the landlord on 16 October 2024 about the condition of temporary accommodation she had been offered. She said it was unsuitable because she would be unable to decorate it herself owing to health conditions. She asked the landlord to pay her decorating costs.
6. The landlord provided its final response on 3 January 2025. It said the decoration met the requirements for temporary accommodation and it referred her to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) if she disagreed with its decision.
7. The property was temporary accommodation, provided by the landlord as part of its homelessness duties. As the complaint is about the condition or suitability of temporary accommodation provided by a local authority, it falls under the jurisdiction of the LGSCO. As such, we have no jurisdiction to investigate the complaint.