The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of an eviction form social housing and the effects on Miss X’s tenancy due to behaviour of other tenants. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints from social housing tenants about their landlords.
The complaint
Miss X complained about the Council ‘s eviction of squatters from one of its properties. She says the housing authority failed to carry out the process correctly which has resulted in anti-social behaviour against her from other residents nearby. She says the Council failed to protect her properly as a vulnerable tenant.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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 the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Miss X says the Council failed to carry out the eviction of squatters from one of its nearby properties correctly. She reported the occupation of the property to the Council but says the housing manager and staff failed to secure the property initially and did not inform her of progress. She says friends of the evicted squatters nearby have carried out anti-social behaviour as a result.
The housing authority has been dealing with the issues but Miss X says it failed to send her a written plan of what action it would take. The Council told her the investigation was ongoing and offered to appoint a different housing officer to liaise with her.
Since 2013 we have had no authority to investigate complaints from council housing tenants about management and tenancy matters handled by their landlords. Miss X is a tenant and she has complained about the actions of the Council’s housing authority. The Housing Ombudsman Service is the body which deals with complaints by social housing tenants about the actions of their landlords.
Final decision
We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of an eviction form social housing and the effects on Miss X’s tenancy due to behaviour of other tenants. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints from social housing tenants about their landlords.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman