Birmingham City Council (21 008 053)
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a water leak from a Council property. This is because we cannot investigate the Council acting in its role as a social housing provider.
The complaint
- Miss X seeks compensation from the Council for repair costs incurred when her property was damaged by a water leak from the property next door, which is a Council owned house.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Miss X’s complaint relates to the Council’s role as a social housing provider and as per paragraph two, legally we are not allowed to investigate.
Final decision
- We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint because the law does not allow us to do so.
Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman