The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate X’s complaint about adaptations under a disabled facility grant. This is because the complaint is made late and I see no good reason why it could not have been made sooner.
The complaint
X complains about how the Council has dealt with their applications to make adaptations to their property under a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).
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.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
X complained to the Council about how it had managed their DFG applications between 2018 and January 2025. The Council responded in July 2025 and signposted X to us.
I will not investigate X’s complaint because it is made late and I see no good reason why X could not have complained to us sooner.
Final decision
We will not investigate X’s complaint because it is made late.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman