The local government ombudsman has criticized Medway Council for mistakes it made dealing with a housing application by a woman who had escaped domestic violence.

The woman, who came from outside the Medway area, applied for council accommodation after she fled from her partner.

But the council mishandled the application.

The findings, by ombudsman Tony Redmond, were published this week .

In his report,Mr Redmond says he welcomes the fact the council is introducing a new housing allocation scheme.

The woman, who has not been named, became homeless when she left her home following domestic violence from her former-partner.

She moved to Medway, where she has family, and found a place in a women’s refuge.

She complained the council had failed to deal properly with her application for housing.

The ombudsman said the council had failed to maintain a full housing allocation scheme since September 2002. This meant it was in breach of its statutory duty.

It had previously been allocating accommodation on the basis of an undocumented housing application system of what were called "sub-bands." These were complex and difficult to understand, by the council's own admission.

Mr Redmond said: “In the absence of any documentation to support the verbal explanation of how the sub-bands operate, it seems unlikely that the sub-bands have been applied consistently.

“This raises the distinct possibility that people have not been treated equitably.

“But who, or even how many, it is not possible to say.”

The council failed to maintain proper records of contact with the woman’s support workers at the refuge and failed to reply to correspondence from the refuge and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The ombudsman recommended the council should reinstate the woman's position as a homeless applicant and review its procedures, as well as paying her woman £500 compensation.

A Medway Council spokesman said:" Medway Council apologies for the distress caused to the woman concerned.

“In 2008 Medway Council was subject to an external assessment by the Audit Commission.

“This identified a number of areas and issues that the council needed to address.

“Good progress has been made in addressing these areas including those highlighted within the Ombudsman’s report.

“The council has already taken a number of positive actions to improve all of its housing services and this includes the way in which housing is allocated.

“A new policy has already been implemented. The council is confident this will lead to an improved service for those requiring assistance.”