A London borough has apologised to homeless families after keeping them in hostel and B&B accommodation for eight months.
Redbridge Council was subject to two separate investigations by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman over complaints about failures to properly house homeless families. Councils are legally only allowed to place homeless households in B&Bs for a limit of six weeks before being found appropriate accommodation.
The authority will act on the ombudsman’s recommendation that it moves other families out of unsuitable accommodation right away.
It has also promised to adopt a new policy on allocating temporary accommodation.