London Borough of Enfield

The Ombudsman's final decision

Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X complaint about the suitability of two properties allocated to her through the Council’s social housing scheme before and during 2023. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to investigate now.

The complaint

Ms X complains the Council allocated her two properties through its housing allocations scheme that were unsuitable for her needs. This includes the property she was living in during 2023 and a new allocation that she moved into in October 2023. She says the matter has caused her distress and the unsuitable properties have affected her physical and mental health. She wants an investigation into the Council’s handling of the allocations and the suitability assessments completed.

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, 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

We cannot investigate this complaint as it is late. Ms X’s complaint relates to properties the Council allocated to her prior to and during 2023. Ms X brought the complaint to us in January 2026. If she considered the properties to be unsuitable at the time of allocation, she could have complained to the Council or approached us sooner. I can see no good reason for us to investigate now.

Final decision

We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because the complaint is late and there is no good reason to investigate now.

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman