Liverpool Council was ordered to pay compensation to the woman and apologise for the situation
A woman and her autistic son were left in a home with damp walls for more than a year after Liverpool Council deemed it to be in an “acceptable condition.” The local authority was found to be at fault with how it handled the case of the woman and her son between October 2022 and September this year.
A report issued by the Local Government Ombudsman said despite the woman – known only as Miss X – informing the city council that she felt the private rented properly she had been placed in was “unsafe and unsuitable” a review was not carried out as she had already accepted the property. Officials said this caused “distress, frustration and uncertainty” for Miss X.
As a result, Liverpool Council has apologised to the woman and was ordered to pay a financial remedy after being found at fault. The report said Miss X approached Cunard officials in October 2022 because she was fleeing violence from her neighbours.
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The woman and her son were placed in interim accommodation before being matched with a privately rented property in February. Miss X was able to move in with her son the next month.
The Council sent Miss X a letter ending its duty towards her and provided her with details on how to request a suitability review. At the time Miss X accepted the property, she requested a review because she said the house was inhabitable and required repairs.
She referenced the impact this would have on her health condition, an autoimmune disease and her son who has autism. Prior to Miss X moving in and in the weeks after she had moved in, a contractor completed repairs on the property.
Miss X continued to raise issues with the property in March and April 2023. Issues included damp walls, windows needing resealing and a hole in the sink.
In May last year, Miss X raised an initial complaint because Liverpool Council had not carried out a suitability review of the property. She said the council continued letting her live in unsafe and unsuitable housing despite knowing about her health conditions and her son’s autism.
In July 2023, the council carried out an inspection of Miss X’s home using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) to check for hazards. These were classed as low and the council said the property was in an acceptable condition.
Miss X’s complaint was not upheld at the first stage as council officials said they found “no significant disrepair existed.” This led to the matter being escalated to which the city said it could not carry out a suitability review once Miss X had accepted an offer on the property.
According to the Ombudsman, the council said had Miss X refused the property based on the belief it was unsuitable for her and her son, it could have then carried out a suitability review. As of September 2024, Miss X was evicted from the property.
Liverpool Council said this was partially due to her not allowing contractors into the property to carry out repairs. In its findings, the Ombudsman said the city should have carried out a review no later than April 2023.
As a result, it was told to pay £600 to “recognise the distress, frustration and uncertainty” caused by the issues. A Liverpool Council spokesperson said: “We accept that we did not meet our usual standards of service in this case and have apologised to the individual concerned.
“We have abided by the ruling of the Ombudsman and taken steps to avoid a similar situation arising in the future.”
