The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her concerns about a Council tenant. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils.
The complaint
Mrs X complains about damage to her property caused by the actions of a tenant of the Council. She would like the Council to pay her excess of £500 and expedite repairs to the tenant’s leaking taps.
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 Mrs X.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mrs X says the Council’s tenant has been negligent. Mrs X complains about the Council’s lack of action in its role as the landlord of the tenant complained of.
We cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by a council acting as a landlord of social housing. This restriction applies to complaints like Mrs X’s complaint which are about Council tenant behaviour and its management of social housing.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is about the management of social housing by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman