No decisions.
No answers.
No accountability.
No accountability.
This is how Slough Borough Council operates.
This site was created to show how local government really works –when officials ignore their duties, avoid responsibility, and leave people without help.
I document my experience here as a working, homeless individual who followed every rule, only to be disregarded by the council.
If you are a council official or local councillor – this site is for you too.
WHO THIS WEBSITE IS FOR
This website is dedicated to senior officials managing Slough Council, as well as councillors responsible for overseeing their actions. I hope that reading this content will help them reflect on the reality of what they are managing – an institution that, in my experience, is failing to meet even the most basic standards of professionalism and accountability.
Raising local taxes or increasing budgets will not fix these systemic issues. The problem lies not in the funding, but in the attitude and conduct of some council workers who seem to believe they are above the rules.
I will regularly upload documents related to my case. Access to these will be restricted via login and password, which I am happy to share with relevant officials and councillors, should they express interest. However, I am also aware that some may not care – perhaps because they see such conduct from local government employees as “normal”. I strongly disagree with this notion.
ABOUT ME
I am nearly 55 years old and have lived in Slough for over 13 years – spending more than 10 of those years in the same rented flat. Currently, I am homeless. Despite this, I remain employed and have not claimed any benefits or housing assistance.
Council officers have consistently failed to provide timely responses to my correspondence. In particular, the official responsible for deciding whether I am entitled to temporary accommodation has still not issued any formal decision – neither acceptance nor refusal – despite my repeated written requests.
This decision was legally due on 17 April 2025, and yet, more than 50 days later, I am still waiting. Without a decision, I cannot appeal. In my view, this is a clear and serious breach of the law.
MY SITUATION – THE FACTS
Over two years ago, I submitted an application for social housing. Despite numerous reminders, I received no response for 702 days. Only after submitting a formal complaint did my documents “suddenly reappear”, and I was finally placed on the waiting list.
This happened solely because of the complaint. The idea that such a delay was due to “backlogs” is laughable. If it were truly just a delay, why was the issue resolved immediately after a formal complaint? It speaks volumes.
Several months ago, my housing situation worsened when the owners of the flat I shared decided to sell the property. I followed all legal procedures, informed the council within the required timeframe, and received basic assistance in trying to find housing. Unfortunately, this help proved ineffective.
On 17 April 2025, I was officially declared homeless. A council officer issued a formal confirmation of this status, and the same document stated I would receive a decision on whether I qualify for temporary housing. As of today (05/06/2025), I am still waiting for that decision.
Worse still, I do not know who is currently responsible for my case. The council has ignored my requests for this basic information. I now rely on the kindness of friends – but that cannot last forever.
WHY I’M SHARING THIS PUBLICLY
There are numerous serious issues in how the council is handling my case. These include:
• Refusing to issue decisions;
• Failing to respond to correspondence;
• Ignoring formal complaints or replying many weeks (or months) late;
• Sending unprofessional, incomplete responses that lack even basic reference information.
Just a few days ago, I received a reply to a second-stage complaint – after more than 80 working days (the official deadline is 20). The response did not include any reference number, complaint date, or indication of which complaint it referred to.
Was this a mistake? I don’t think so. It appears intentional – a way to avoid accountability and to obscure the fact that the council missed the legal response deadline. There is no acknowledgement that the reply was late. Nothing.
And this is not an isolated case. There have been several such incidents in recent months, which I intend to document here in full detail.
I am also aware that, as a result of this, the council may now try to “punish” me by denying all assistance – including both social housing and temporary accommodation. Perhaps because I dared to complain. Perhaps because of my ethnicity. I don’t know. I leave that for the reader to judge.
IN CONCLUSION
No staffing shortages, lack of housing, or other “objective reasons” can justify such grossly irresponsible, unprofessional, and – frankly – inhumane conduct from council officers. I believe many of them act with full awareness that they will not face any consequences. The only person suffering the consequences here is me.
I will continue to update this website with new evidence and documents, so that others can see and judge for themselves.
page update - in progress
About My Case
1st Stage complaint outcome (ref. 334501)
council case ref. 334501
(this is a fragment of an email received on 08.01.2025)
'I can confirm I have arranged for my team to locate your application form sent recorded delivery on 06/02/2023. If we cannot locate your application form, I will arrange for another form to be emailed to you. I will arrange for you to have a dedicated Allocations Officer to liaise with to process and assess your housing application.'
my comment: success - after 702 days!
1st Stage complaint outcome - cont. (ref. 334501)
council case ref. 334501
(finally - I received full answer on 10/01/2025)
In that answer one of council's managers informs me that my application has been located and approved. She also apologizes for the delay, justifying it by stating: "We currently have a backlog, which we are working to clear."
my reaction is: From the moment you received my application (07/02/2023) to the date it was approved (09/01/2025), 702 days have passed—that is over 100 weeks. Can a delay of more than 100 weeks simply be called a "backlog"?
2nd Stage complaint (ref. 335295 in connected to 334501)
I made a Stage 2 complaint because, in my opinion, in accordance with Slough Borough Council’s Tenant and Leaseholder Complaints Policy, "the response at Stage 1 has failed to consider all aspects of the complaint" and furthermore because I was "dissatisfaction with the investigation process at Stage 1" (complaint received by Council on 07/02/2025).
2nd Stage complaint - Manager's response (ref. 335295 in connected to 334501)
Just a few days ago (on 29/05/2025), I received a reply to a second-stage complaint – after 110 calendar days - more than 80 working days (the official deadline is 20). The response did not include any reference number, complaint date, or indication of which complaint it referred to and any "... sorry" - but it looks like the response for complaint ref. 335295. After that I sent a query to the Housing Register and Allocations Manager about what this answer is about but I've been waiting for an answer for a week - to no avail, total ignorance!
page in progress - next steps:
Next complaint cases to refer - Slough Council ref. numbers:
- ref. 335833
- ref. 336740
- ref. 337050
PDF documents downloaded from Council Slough website
Housing Allocation Scheme downloaded on 04/02/2023 from Slough Council website
Housing Allocation Scheme downloaded on 27/11/2024 from Slough Council website
Housing Service Complaints Policy downloaded on 04/02/2025 from Slough Council website
Housing Service Complaints Policy downloaded on 01/06/2025 from Slough Council website
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