Rossendale Borough Council (24 020 671)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 11 Mar 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax banding as the decision was made by a body out of jurisdiction.
The complaint
- Ms X complains about delay in reviewing her request for lower Council tax banding.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as the Valuation Office Agency. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34(1), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X says that the Council has failed to deal with her request for lower Council tax banding.
- Every property has a council tax band. The Valuation Office, which is part of central government, decides which band a property is in. So we cannot investigate that decision. If someone wants to change their property’s council tax band they can apply to the Valuation Office. If this is refused, they can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is against a body out of jurisdiction.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman