Watford Borough Council will review a housing application by the mother of an autistic boy after being directed to do so by the Ombudsman.

The independent complaints body said the council was at fault for failing to properly consider medical evidence provided by the family of a four-year-old disabled boy who insisted his condition was such that it required they be moved to a larger property in 2018.

The boy’s mother, referred to as Mrs B, applied to the council for a three-bedroom house so her son could have a room and toilet of his own. She asked to be given medical priority by the council.

Watford Council’s medical adviser said a report by an occupational therapist highlighting the boy’s aggression and violent behaviour towards his brother – even waking him throughout the night - did not justify medical housing priority.

The boy’s mother asked the council to review her application for medical priority in July last year and in July and August she supplied letters from her son’s GP, community nurse and paediatrician who all agreed the four-year-old required his own room.

In the letter she described his lack of a “safe, calm space to go to when he is overwhelmed” adding, he is “struggling to manage his emotions and sensory overload due to his condition”.

Watford Council responded to Mrs B in September saying it had not increased her medical priority, claiming her son’s behavioural issues, meltdowns and decreased safety awareness “would not be improved” by moving to a larger property.

The council added it had completed its review and referred her to the Ombudsmen.

But, during a Cabinet meeting on Monday (March 4), the council moved to review Mrs B’s case once more after pressure from the complaints body.

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: “We’ve fully taken on board the Ombudsman’s decision about this family’s housing application and will be carrying out a fresh review using all the medical evidence that has been submitted.

“To make sure this doesn’t happen again, we’ve changed our process. This will mean that if a family wants their housing application reviewed, it will be assessed by a senior manager. It’s important to recognise that this family are going through an incredibly difficult time, so our priority is to work with them to complete this new review as swiftly as we can.”

Watford Council deputy managing director Nick Fenwick added: “We didn’t take into account the updated medical application of the applicant, we have taken this on board and hope to resolve this matter in a week to ten days.”

He said check and balances were in place to ensure this does not happen again.