London council pays £6,000 to disabled woman left in inadequate home for more than two years

A South London council failed to move a disabled woman from her home for more than two-and-a-half years after deciding her property was unsuitable.A new Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman report found Wandsworth Council at fault for failing to secure alternative accommodation for the woman, referred to only as Miss X, who also experienced a leak in the property.The watchdog said the council had ruled Miss X’s temporary accommodation was unsuitable in September 2023, even before the leak, which meant it had an immediate duty to move her.Miss X then reported a leak in the property to the council in December 2024 and asked to be moved due to her disability in February 2025. She complained to the council in March about its lack of progress in resolving the leak, which she said had left her unable to use her kitchen.While the council inspected the property in June and October, and arranged some work, Miss X told the ombudsman the leak still had not been fully resolved. She said the council’s delays in fixing the issue had severely impacted her physical and mental health.The report said: “I have considered that Miss X is disabled and has been deprived of adequate facilities to cook and prepare food as she has reported that she cannot use her kitchen. This issue would have had a high level of impact on her over a long time.”The council offered Miss X an alternative property in January this year, which she declined as she said it was unsuitable and she could not afford it.The council agreed to apologise to Miss X and pay her £6,300 for its failure to offer her suitable alternative accommodation. It also agreed to pay her an extra £350 a month from June for a maximum of six months, or until it offers her a suitable property.Wandsworth Council has been contacted for comment.