Care home resident was charged rent on former council house for 16 months

A man living in a care home was at the same time charged for rent on his former council house for 16 months before his death, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.

Bristol City Council, which was also receiving fees for the resident’s residential care, was ordered to pay almost £2,000 in compensation, the BBC reported.

An Ombudsman investigation found the council had failed to end the man’s tenancy at his former home when he moved into a care home in May 2016.

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The Ombudsman said: “The council has acknowledged that it shouldn’t have done this.

“The council has agreed to pay the additional fees incurred by the estate in corresponding with it on this issue. The council has also reviewed its processes.”

Bristol City Council admitted its error, saying it had intended to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputy to be appointed to manage the man’s finances after he entered a care home but had not done this because of a backlog and an internal reorganisation.

The council was ordered to pay the man’s executors £1,645 plus VAT, amounting to £1,974.