The council has since apologised to the woman and paid her £500 in compensation, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter
A domestic abuse victim who received death threats was left feeling “scared to leave her property” after Barking and Dagenham Council failed to move her to a new home.
Following an ombudsman investigation Barking and Dagenham Council was ordered to pay the woman compensation for causing her “distress and uncertainty”.
A council spokesperson said the authority “apologise unreservedly for the distress caused”.
The woman – named in the ombudsman’s report as ‘Miss F’ – was living in temporary accommodation and was on the waiting list for a council home in 2023.
Miss F told the council in February that year that she had a non-molestation order and a restraining order against an ex-partner, and had received death threats.
She added that her ex-partner was convicted of assault against her and a family member.
The council’s temporary accommodation team said it would consider relocating her but that, due to accommodation shortages, “Miss F may want to consider private rental”.
A meeting of police, social and housing service representatives discussed her case in March, and recommended she be moved “because of a concern that the perpetrator may contact Miss F at her address”.
However, the council took no action.
The ombudsman said that there was then “a domestic abuse incident” in February 2025, and she contacted the council again.
However, in March the council replied to say that “there was no basis” for giving her additional priority on the housing register or to move her to alternative temporary accommodation.
It said that “a restraining order was in place to protect Miss F and there had been no suggestion until recently that there was a risk that the restraining order may be breached”.
After her complaints to the council failed, Miss X took her case to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
The ombudsman’s report says she had “remained in unsuitable accommodation and in the wrong housing band for three years” and that this “caused significant distress as she and her children lived in fear of violence and were scared to leave their property”.
Miss F was eventually offered permanent housing in October 2025.
But the ombudsman decided the council was “at fault” for failing to consider whether her temporary accommodation was still suitable, and for failing to consider whether she should have had additional preference on the housing register.
It said these caused her “uncertainty” and recommended the council apologise and pay her £500 of compensation.
The ombudsman said the council should set out criteria for deciding when it is almost impossible for someone to remain in their temporary accommodation.
It also said the council’s social housing register team should have a clear process for considering on whether to give people additional preference.
A council spokesperson said: “We accept the ombudsman’s findings in this case and apologise unreservedly for the distress caused. This fell short of the standard of service our residents should receive.
“At the time, the issues raised – including the suitability of the temporary accommodation and whether additional priority should have been considered due to threats of violence – were given some consideration, but we accept that formal assessments should have been carried out and clearly communicated.
“We are strengthening our processes to ensure this happens consistently going forward.”
They added: “We are developing a new case management process to ensure assessments are completed, recorded, and shared with residents, and that domestic abuse‑related concerns trigger clear and timely decision‑making.
“Staff guidance is also being reinforced to support more consistent responses across housing and safeguarding services.”
