Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to make adaptations to Mr X’s property. This is because he is a Council tenant and so this complaint is about the management of social housing. The law does not allow us to investigate these complaints.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council has refused to carry out adaptations to his property which have been recommended by medical professionals.
2. Mr X says the failure to carry out adaptations has left him feeling distressed as he feels he cannot leave his property safely.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. 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

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

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My assessment

7. Mr X lives in property he rents from the Council. Provision of adaptations in social housing is not funded through disabled facilities grants but through housing revenue streams. Therefore this is a complaint about the management of social housing and we cannot investigate.
8. Mr X may raise a complaint with the Housing Ombudsman Service.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is about the management of social housing. The law does not allow us to investigate these matters.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman