Ombudsman slams council over failure to relocate woman and her family despite abusive ex-partner's harassment

Enfield Council took eight months to move the family away from the area where the woman’s ex-partner worked, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Enfield Council caused “distress” and “injustice” by failing for eight months to move a domestic abuse survivor and her children away from the area where her abusive ex-partner worked.

This is according to a recent ruling from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).

The woman, referred to as ‘Miss B’ in the ombudsman’s report, complained to the council in January 2025 that the temporary accommodation it had provided was unsafe due to its proximity to the workplace of ‘Mr C’, an ex-partner who had domestically abused her.

Miss B had also “repeatedly” tried to contact a housing officer during this time but could not get through to them. It was not until the following month that the council got back to her, apologising for its lack of response and claiming it wanted to set up “a better line of communication”.

In March 2025, a council review referred to Mr C, who had learned of his ex-partner’s address, “harassing the family and making unauthorised visits” to Miss B, who had also given the civic centre two crime numbers for incidents in September 2024.

The council’s review concluded Miss B’s property was no longer suitable. The ombudsman argued it now “had an immediate and unqualified duty to move Miss B to more suitable accommodation”.

But the council did not actually do so until eight months later, in November 2025.

“Along with the poor living conditions, this caused them distress,” the ombudsman report stated.

The LGSCO’s investigation noted evidence showing the council made efforts to try and secure some alternative temporary accommodation for Miss B before November last year.

Nevertheless, it concluded that “the weight of evidence suggested” that all of these offers were unsuitable due to their distance from the school her children went to “and/or because they were in areas known to Mr C”.

Describing the issue as a “service failure”, the ombudsman ordered the council to apologise to Miss B and make “a symbolic payment” of £1,500 “in recognition of her injustice”.

A council spokesperson said it accepted the regulator’s findings and had “fully complied” with its recommendations.

They added: “This case involved complex safeguarding considerations, and while attempts were made to identify suitable alternative accommodation, it took longer than it should have done to secure a placement that met the household’s needs.

“While we recognise that this specific case fell below the standards that residents should expect from us, it does not change our commitment to supporting survivors of domestic abuse and those facing homelessness. The safety and wellbeing of residents remains our highest priority.”

In March, the council approved its new violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy, with a “vision to create a borough where all residents live a life free from domestic abuse and violence”.

The spokesperson said the council remained committed to these aims, adding: “We want residents to be confident that concerns about their safety will be taken seriously and support is available when needed.”

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