The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about council tax as the Council has agreed to take early action to remedy his injustice.
The complaint
Mr X complained the Council wrongly removed a three-month council tax-free period which had been applied to a property he purchased. He said it also delayed informing him of this.
Mr X said this caused financial strain. He wanted the Council to re-instate the tax-free period and provide financial compensation.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word fault to refer to these. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), 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
The Council applied a three-month council tax discount to Mr X’s property when he purchased it, due to the property being empty and unfurnished. However, the Council removed this discount 11 weeks later. Mr X said the Council should not have done so. He said this has impacted his finances.
The Council did not uphold Mr X’s complaint and explained it does not consider he is legally entitled to the discount.
The Council has since considered the financial impact removing the discounted period had on Mr X. It has proposed to reduce the outstanding balance by £796.41, which is equivalent to the discount. It will do so within one month of our final decision.
I am satisfied the action the Council proposes to take provides a suitable remedy to Mr X. We will not investigate this complaint.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the Council has agreed to take suitable action to remedy the matter.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman