London Borough of Lewisham (20 010 983)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 17-Mar-2021

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s decision not to award her discretionary housing payment in 2018. We should not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint. This is because it was received outside the normal 12-month timescale for submitting complaints. There are no good reasons to exercise discretion to accept it now because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Bexley (20 011 982)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 17-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s council tax band on a property he owns. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because the complainant can contact the Valuation Office Agency.

Teignbridge District Council (20 011 829)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 16-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X and Mr Y’s complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse their application for a grant for small businesses affected by COVID-19. This is because there is no evidence of fault in the way the Council made its decision.

London Borough of Lambeth (20 000 566)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 16-Mar-2021

Summary: Ms X complained the Council took until March 2020 to correctly assess a housing benefit claim made in October 2016. Ms X says this delay led directly to her eviction in 2017. There is significant delay in this case which is fault. However, the benefit underpayment did not clear Ms X’s rent arrears and so it cannot be said that the eviction would not have taken place but for the Council’s fault.

London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (20 005 250)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 15-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint that the Council wrongly held her liable for business rates. This is because disputes over liability for business rates are more appropriate for consideration by the magistrates’ court.

Coventry City Council (20 006 181)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Local welfare payments 15-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council taking recovery action for council tax since 2017. We will not investigate this complaint. This is because concerns some matters which he was aware of outside the normal 12-month period for submitting complaints. There are no good reasons to disapply the time limit on considering this complaint. His current council tax account is subject to recovery by the Council and there is insufficient evidence of any fault in procedure which would warrant an investigation.

Rochford District Council (20 010 741)

Statement Upheld Council tax 15-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council made errors to his council tax account. We will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been remedied by the Council.

London Borough of Harrow (20 011 110)

Statement Upheld Council tax 15-Mar-2021

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s enforcement of a council tax debt. We will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been remedied.

Wakefield City Council (20 011 632)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 15-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council is billing the complainant for council tax on an unhabitable property. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Hillingdon (20 011 653)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 15-Mar-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a lack of support for his business during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.