Waltham Forest Council has agreed to pay £1,600 in compensation to a man who was left homeless for five weeks after fleeing domestic abuse, following a damning report by the

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

The man initially sought help from the council in January, reporting that he could no longer stay with relatives who were abusing him. He reached out again in February but received no substantial support until mid-March, when the council offered temporary hotel accommodation after legal action was threatened.

However, the Ombudsman’s report found that the council failed to take further steps when the man reported that his abuser knew where he was staying. It also highlighted that the council did not confirm his hotel booking on one occasion, leaving him homeless again for three nights, during which he said he was assaulted.

In addition, the council refused to store the man’s belongings unless he paid £500 upfront—a sum he could not afford—resulting in the loss of his possessions.

The Ombudsman criticised the council for a three-month delay in recognising its duty to provide housing assistance and for failing to consider both the man’s vulnerability and the suitability of the accommodation offered.

In response, Councillor Ahsan Khan issued an apology, telling the BBC that the council accepts the report’s findings and will use them to improve how it supports residents going forward.

The council has agreed to pay the £1,600, issue a formal apology, and review its housing policies—particularly those concerning vulnerable individuals. Photo by Garik 11, Wikimedia commons.