The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about work the Council carried out on Mr X’s home in 2008. This is because we cannot carry out an effective investigation into what happened due to the time that has passed.
The complaint
Mr X complains the Council has caused long term damage to his property as a result of work it carried out in 2008. Mr X says he has recently discovered dry rot which has been caused by a lack of ventilation in the property.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Ombudsman investigates 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 may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, or we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The works to Mr X’s property were carried out in 2008. We cannot carry out an effective investigation into this complaint due to the time that has passed. The Council no longer has records of work carried out and it is unlikely officers will be able to clearly remember what happened at the time.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we cannot carry out an effective investigation into what happened due to the time that has passed.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman