The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has ruled that Ealing Council breached legal limits by placing a disabled pregnant mother and her child in unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation for 14 months. By law, B&B accommodation is deemed unsuitable for families with children and can only be used for a maximum of six weeks.
Unsuitable Accommodation for a Disabled Mother
The mother, referred to as Miss Y, uses a wheelchair and has complex medical needs. She first approached Ealing Council as homeless in February 2024. The B&B was physically unsuitable due to stairs, which severely restricted her mobility. The Ombudsman found that the council failed to provide suitable accommodation from 15 March 2024 until 12 November 2025. She spent eight weeks and four days in B&B before living for nearly a year in council-managed temporary accommodation with shared facilities, which the Ombudsman ruled was unsuitable for her needs.
Council Ignored Medical Advice
Medical professionals had informed the council about the impact of shared facilities on Miss Y's health. Despite this, the council did not provide self-contained accommodation until November 2025. The report states: “The council’s continued failure to provide Miss Y with suitable accommodation while she was homeless was a fault.” Miss Y later left due to health impacts and stayed with family for six and a half months before being rehoused.
Delays in Housing Assessment
During the 14 months, the council delayed assessing her housing register application and priority banding. This prevented Miss Y from bidding on suitable properties. The Ombudsman called this an “unreasonable delay,” noting the council failed to act promptly on medical information from her midwife. The council also failed to properly consider all medical information in its January 2025 decision on her priority and did not inform her of her right to a review.
Council Apologises and Pays Compensation
Ealing Council has agreed to apologise and pay £6,000 for the impact of unsuitable accommodation, plus £150 for distress caused by failures in medical priority assessment and review rights. A council spokesperson said: “We accept the findings in the report and sincerely apologise to the resident for the failings identified in this case and the impact this had on them. We have agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommended actions, including a formal apology and financial compensation to acknowledge the distress and inconvenience caused.”
The council is reviewing homelessness procedures to ensure B&B use is minimised and suitable alternatives are sought quickly. It is also strengthening housing allocation processes to properly consider medical information and inform residents of review rights.
