Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about how the Council has dealt with her requests for assistance with her housing and council tax. This is because Ms X has not responded to the Council’s offers of assistance and requests for evidence. Therefore, there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. Ms X complaints the Council has refused to provide her with help with her housing situation and has refused to make her exempt from paying Council Tax.
2. Ms X says the Council’s actions have caused her distress and she is currently living in unsuitable accommodation.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Ms X has made similar complaints to the Ombudsman in the past regarding her housing and Council Tax and we have found no fault with the Council’s actions.
7. The Council has responded to Ms X’s recent requests for help with her housing. This includes requests for adaptations, rehousing and repair issues within her private rented accommodation. Ms X has not provided the Council with up to date evidence it has requested and she has not responded to its offers to inspect her property or carry out an occupational therapy assessment of her home. Therefore, we will not investigate this complaint as there is no evidence of fault.
8. The Council has told Ms X she can apply for a Council Tax exemption if she believes she is entitled to one. However, she has not done so. The Council has also offered to carry out an occupational therapy assessment of her home to see if she qualifies for adaptations which might mean she is exempt from paying Council Tax. Ms X has not responded to this offer. Therefore, there is no evidence of fault and we will not investigate her complaint.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman