Vulnerable people are facing homelessness because some councils are ‘still not getting it right,’ according to the Local Government Ombudsman.
For the past five years, councils in England with housing responsibilities have had increased duties to help prevent people from becoming homeless, but Ombudsman Michael King said they were often failing.
Mr King said: ‘Five years since the new Act came into force we would have expected the right systems and processes to have been embedded, and for officers to be well aware of their duties, but, unfortunately this is not always the case and too often we are finding councils at fault.
‘Although we see many examples where councils have got things right, too often our investigations still find that councils have failed in the basics.’
The Local Government Association (LGA) said homelessness pressures, depleting social housing stock and an unaffordable private rented sector were a ‘perfect storm’ for already-stretched council services.
LGA housing spokesperson Darren Rodwell said: ‘Councils work incredibly hard to prevent the tragedy of homelessness from happening, as well as supporting those who find themselves affected.'
