A Government watchdog has slammed Haringey Council for housing a young homeless family in a tower block with no cold water and a lift that only worked intermittently.

Following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Haringey Council has been ordered to apologise to the family living in “Dickensian conditions” and pay more than £4,500 in compensation.

It began when the family was placed in the ninth floor flat by the council after the temporary accommodation they were initially placed in was found to be infested with mice.

But the one-bedroom flat, in an ageing tower block due for demolition, had no cold running water and no lift - meaning the family was forced to climb flights of stairs with a pram and large bottles of water.

The Ombudsman’s investigation found the council at fault for placing the family in the flat when officers knew there were problems with the water supply. It also criticised the council’s response to the family’s repeated requests for a review of the accommodation’s suitability, and to their complaints.

Michael King, local government and social care ombudsman, said: “This is yet another case of a council housing a family in what I have described in the past as Dickensian conditions.

“The family spent 10 months in accommodation which had initial heating problems, no cold water, and inadequate lifts, having been moved out of one with a rodent infestation.

“The flat was patently unsuitable, and the lack of cold water meant it fell below minimum acceptable standards. This caused the family real hardship.”

The council agreed to apologise to the family and pay them £300 a month for the 10 months they were placed in the unsuitable accommodation.

It will pay an additional £20 a week to reimburse them for the bottled water they had to buy, and £15 per week for their laundry costs.

The council has also agreed to tell the ombudsman what steps it has taken to ensure any other homeless families placed in the block do not experience the same problems.