Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with planning matters between 2018 and 2019 because it is made late. We cannot investigate how the Council has managed work and requests for adaptations to Ms X’s leaseholder property because the law prevents us from investigating the management of housing let on long leases by councils.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about how the Council dealt with several planning matters between 2018 and 2019. She also complains about how the Council has deal with work and to her leasehold property and an application to make alterations to that property.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)
4. We cannot investigate complaints about the management of housing let on a long lease by a council that is a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5B, 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. I will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with several planning issues between 2018 and 2019. This is because these issues happened too long ago and I see no good reason why she could not have complained sooner.
8. I cannot investigate Ms X’s complaints about changes made to Ms X’s leasehold property or about how the Council dealt with her requests for adaptations to that property. The law prevents us from investigating a council’s management of housing let on a long lease.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because part of it is made late and other parts concern the management of housing let on long leases by councils.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman