Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Mr X’s complaints about anti-social behaviour from his neighbours. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the Council’s actions in relation to the management of social housing.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains he has been subjected to anti-social behaviour from his neighbours and the Council has failed to act. Mr X’s neighbours are tenants of the Council and Mr X is a homeowner.
2. Mr X says the behaviour of the tenants has caused him and his family significant distress and led them to put their house on the market.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. We cannot investigate complaints about the provision or management of social housing by a council acting as a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5A schedule 5, as amended)

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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. Mr X’s neighbours are tenants, and the Council has been dealing with this matter as a housing management issue. The law does not allow us to investigate the Council’s actions in relation to the management of social housing. Therefore, we cannot investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because it relates to the Council’s actions in relation to the management of social housing.

Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman