The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s responses to complaints about anti-social behaviour by the complainant’s neighbour. This is because we have no remit to consider complaints about the Council’s actions when it is acting as a social housing landlord.
The complaint
Mrs X is a private tenant. She complains about anti-social behaviour from her neighbours who are tenants of the Council. She says the nuisance and drug taking is affecting her family’s health.
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 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)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
We cannot investigate this complaint as it concerns the Council’s decisions concerning its social housing tenants.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it concerns the Council’s actions as a social housing landlord.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman