Coventry City Council (21 016 717)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 08-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an offer of housing. This is because Mr X could reasonably have used his right to go to court to challenge the Council.

Cherwell District Council (21 007 194)

Statement Not upheld Other 02-Mar-2022

Summary: Miss B complains that the Council incorrectly told her she could buy the rest of her ‘shared ownership’ home at a discount, then, after realising its mistake, withdrew the discount. This meant she could not afford to proceed with the purchase. She says the Council’s error meant she spent money on conveyancing fees which she would not otherwise have spent. The Council has already made a suitable offer to remedy her injustice, so we have discontinued our investigation.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (21 015 511)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to make adaptations to Mr X’s property. This is because he is a Council tenant and so this complaint is about the management of social housing. The law does not allow us to investigate these complaints.

London Borough of Lewisham (21 014 433)

Statement Upheld Other 28-Feb-2022

Summary: The Council failed to provide evidence of compliance with a remedy it previously agreed with the Ombudsman. In the original complaint, we found the Council failed to investigate Mr B’s complaint The Council agreed to make a financial payment to recognise the impact of its fault. The Council was at fault for not paying Mr B or keeping records of its attempts to do so. The Council will review its internal procedure for ensuring compliance with, and providing evidence of, recommendations made by the Ombudsman to prevent future injustice to others.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (21 016 712)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 14-Feb-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to cut down a tree at a Council-owned property. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils.

Swindon Borough Council (21 014 122)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 26-Jan-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about service charges for a leasehold flat. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about properties held on a long lease from social housing landlords.

London Borough of Redbridge (20 014 185)

Statement Upheld Other 25-Jan-2022

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to take action about the antisocial behaviour from her neighbours since June 2019. Ms X says her neighbours actions put her safety at risk and has impacted her mental health. Ms X says her neighbour’s relatives are also harassing her for complaining to the Council. The Ombudsman found fault with the Council for its inaction and delays in handling Ms X’s concerns. The Ombudsman also found fault with the Council’s record keeping creating uncertainty about the Council’s investigations. The Council agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommendation to open a new investigation for Ms X into her concerns and follows its procedure in completing these investigations. The Council also agreed to provide Ms X with an apology and a payment of £500 to reflect the distress and inconvenience caused.

Epping Forest District Council (21 015 256)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 20-Jan-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate Ms B’s complaint that the Council damaged her home when it installed a new heating system at the adjoining Council-owned property. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils.

Dartford Borough Council (21 013 794)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Jan-2022

Summary: We have no jurisdiction to investigate a complaint about the actions of the Council in its role as a social landlord.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (21 012 450)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 12-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a neighbour’s CCTV installation and the effect on Mr and Mrs X’s privacy. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about social housing tenants and the Council has had no direct involvement with the dispute.