In the week commencing Monday 16 September 2024 the Housing Ombudsman published its latest Learning From Severe Maladministration report, which shares learning from cases involving temporary moves, known as ‘decants’ by the social housing sector. The report features eight landlords.
Launching the report, Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway called the use of the term decant “crude, dehumanising and stigmatising language for what can be a difficult and emotional process for any person”. Mr Blakeway went on to say “Throughout this report, the human cost of temporary moves is laid bare. There are cases where residents have spent months or years in temporary accommodation, sometimes bumped between different hotels, with experiences of financial hardship and difficulties coping with medical conditions. In some instances, children are not appropriately safeguarded”