The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate Ms B’s complaint that the Council damaged her home when it installed a new heating system at the adjoining Council-owned property. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils.
The complaint
The complainant, who I will refer to as Ms B, complains about work done by the Council to the adjoining property which is a Council tenancy. Ms B says the Council damaged water and gas pipes when it installed a new heating system which resulted in significant damage to her home. Ms B would like the Council to accept it did not install the heating system properly and pay her compensation for the damage to her home and the stress she suffered.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
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 Ms B.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Ms B’s complaint is about the Council’s management of one of its properties as a social landlord. We cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils. This means we have no discretion to investigate the issues Ms B complains about.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Ms B’s complaint because it is about the management of social housing by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman