Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s Trading Standards team’s response to a matter involving electrical installation work carried out at Mr X’s privately rented accommodation. This is because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I refer to as Mr X, complains about the Council’s response to the problems he reported about an electrical installation in his privately rented accommodation.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start or may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X complained to the Council, a county council, about problems with an electrical installation carried out at the property he rents privately. He asked the Council’s Trading Standards service to take action against the firm involved.
6. The Council explained to Mr X that issues relating to electrical installations in rented accommodation come under the remit of district councils and advised him to make a complaint to his local council. It told him that Trading Standards did not have the necessary enforcement powers to address offences of this nature.
7. There is no evidence of fault by the Council. It correctly signposted Mr X to the relevant authority and it is open to Mr X to pursue his complaint with his local council.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman