Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about repairs the Council did to the house next door to Ms X’s as we cannot investigate the actions of the Council in relation to its role as a social housing provider.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains she has had to throw many items away including food, kitchen utensils etc after mice got into her kitchen. Ms X says this happened after the Council left holes in the property next door, after it did work there. Ms X wants compensation from the Council.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Ms X and her neighbour live in Council owned properties.
6. We cannot investigate this complaint as we have no remit to investigate the Council’s actions when it is acting as a social housing provider, which it was in this case, when it carried out the repairs.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because we cannot investigate the Council when it acts in its role as a social housing provider.

Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman