The woman, known only as Ms X, saw her serious medical condition worsen as she languished in a cramped and mouldy flat with her child for over two and a half years
By Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter
An Islington mum with a serious medical condition is to receive £6,400 compensation from her council after waiting years to be rehoused from her damp and overcrowded flat.
Islington Council admitted to leaving the pair in unsuitable accommodation and apologised to the resident for the delays in handling her homelessness application.
During the two and a half years of inaction, the woman, known only as Ms X, saw her medical condition deteriorate as she continued living in the same cramped and mouldy flat, leaving her “at high risk of infections,” a watchdog found.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) slammed the local authority’s “excessive delays” and “drift”, which deprived the woman and the child of a suitable place to live for 32 months.
Though the council eventually rehoused Ms X into temporary accommodation, the move only came after it had received a written legal notice. “[It] could have made this decision much sooner,” the watchdog concluded.
Under housing law and statutory guidance, councils must secure interim accommodation if they have reason to believe an eligible applicant in priority need may be homeless, eligible for assistance, and in priority need. This includes where it is not “reasonable” for them to stay in their existing housing.
A different woman (Ms Y) approached Islington Council on Ms X’s behalf in 2023, warning of her severe health issues, mould and a dependent child, which meant she was in priority need.
Following initial “confusion” about email addresses and lost records, Ms Y lodged a formal complaint over the council’s inaction. Despite upholding the complaint, apologising and admitting that no-one followed up with her, the council still did not progress the case — despite promising to do so.
When Ms Y tried to escalate the complaint around 20 months later, the council refused because a year had passed. By this point, Ms X’s medical condition was worsening.
The Ombudsman’s investigation revealed that the council had twice closed her case – first in February 2024, without assessing its duties, and again in July 2024, claiming lack of contact. This was despite Ms X having submitted the requested forms two days earlier.
It was not until August 2025, after the council received a written legal warning on behalf of Ms X, that the council visited her home. The attending council worker found mould and “unsuitable” living conditions.
Around three months later, Ms Y complained to the Ombudsman. Islington finally accepted it had a relief duty to Ms X in February 2026, and placed her in temporary accommodation two months later.
The council offered to pay the woman £200 per month of delay, but later agreed with the watchdog to pay a “symbolic” £6,400 to “recognise the impact” of its failures. The council has since hired more staff to make sure cases are “actively monitored”.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cllr Jason Jackson, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, said: “We sincerely apologise for the failings identified by the Ombudsman, and for the distress and frustration that this caused to the individual involved.”
Cllr Jackson added that the council was “glad that suitable temporary accommodation has now been found”.
