Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a housing application. It is reasonable for Mr X to ask the Council for a review of the priority decision.

The complaint

1. Mr X says the Council has not awarded him the correct priority banding for his housing application. He says he should qualify for a priority star on his application because he is employed but the Council has failed to do this.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide it would be reasonable for the person to ask for a council review or appeal.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

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

Back to top

My assessment

5. Mr X says he has been on the housing register since 2021but the assessment of his housing priority is incorrect. The Council says he is awarded band 3 priority with a star for being in employment. He says that the star has not been added to his banding and that he should be in a higher priority group.
6. Under s.166A of the housing Act 1996 a housing applicant may ask a council to carry out a review if their housing application assessment if they disagree with the priority it has been awarded. It is reasonable for Mr X to ask the Council for such a review.

Back to top

Final decision

7. We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a housing application. It is reasonable for Mr X to ask the Council for a review of the priority decision.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman