The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a housing application. There is not enough evidence of fault.
The complaint
Mr X complains the Council have not accepted him onto their housing register.
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 or continue 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 the complainant and I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X applied to the Council’s housing register. The Council did not accept Mr X onto the housing register.
Mr X complains the Council have not accepted him onto the housing register because they are targeting him.
The Council have confirmed Mr X was not accepted onto the housing register because he is not a qualifying person under their allocation scheme. Mr X has not been able to demonstrate he meets the local connection criteria.
The Council must offer housing in line with its policy. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s application of their policy to justify investigating.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman