Bristol City Council (23 016 132)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 01-Mar-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s investigation of neighbour nuisance caused by its tenants in a block of flats. We have no jurisdiction to investigate the actions of social housing landlords in tenancy matters.

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council (23 016 100)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 26-Feb-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to install a fence in the complainant’s garden. This is because the law prevents us from investigating a council’s actions as a registered social housing provider.

Oadby & Wigston Borough Council (23 010 692)

Statement Upheld Other 26-Feb-2024

Summary: The Council was at fault for delay identifying Miss X might be homeless. It lost one of her applications for housing and took too long to award the correct band on its housing register. As a result, Miss X missed an offer of housing and experienced avoidable distress and frustration when she needed to move to escape domestic abuse. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Miss X and act to improve its services.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 018 586)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 23-Feb-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mrs B’s reports of water damage from the adjoining Council tenancy. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils.

London Borough of Lambeth (23 016 002)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 22-Feb-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about Council spending on a social housing estate as this is not within our legal remit.

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (23 008 246)

Statement Upheld Other 22-Feb-2024

Summary: Ms X complains the Council wrongly refused to accept a homelessness application from her when she was fleeing domestic abuse. The Council is at fault as it wrongly refused to accept a homelessness application from Ms X and failed to offer interim accommodation to her. As a result, Ms X and her child lived between family and friends for longer than necessary. The Council has appropriately remedied some of the injustice to Ms X. It has also agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment of £300 to Ms X to acknowledge the distress caused.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (23 003 572)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 21-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s charges for maintenance works to a private road. It is reasonable for Mr X to challenge the Council’s interpretation of the local laws relating to his property in the courts which are better placed to determine legal liability.

Gravesham Borough Council (23 018 687)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 21-Feb-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s lack of response to Mr X’s complaints about being overcharged for electricty. This is because we have no remit to consider complaints about the Council’s actions when it is acting as a social housing landlord.

West Northamptonshire Council (23 007 949)

Statement Upheld Other 21-Feb-2024

Summary: Mr X complains the Council did not properly consider his homelessness application when he fled domestic abuse. This meant he was left without safe accommodation. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for how it considered Mr X’s application. The Council has agreed to make a financial payment to Mr X and carry out service improvements.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (23 018 074)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 20-Feb-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs B’s complaint about the Council’s management of the neighbouring property. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils.