The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about unsuccessful housing applications. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
The complaint
The complainant, Mr X, says he has made some unsuccessful housing applications. He wants to know what information is missing.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We investigate 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 an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council. This includes the housing applications and the decision letters. I also considered our Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X has made two or three housing applications. Each time the Council closed the case because Mr X had not provided all the supporting evidence. The decision letters explained what evidence was missing and one letter explained that one document Mr X had submitted was too unclear to read.
I will not start an investigation because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. I have looked at the documents Mr X provided and they are either unclear and/or do not cover everything the Council asked for. In addition, the Council has explained what information is missing and what Mr X needs to provide.
Final decision
We will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman