London Borough of Hounslow (19 005 387)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council house sales and leaseholders 28-Oct-2019

Summary: We will not investigate Mr Q’s complaint that the Council keeps asking him to provide the same information in support of his Right to Buy application. This is because he may use the statutory delay process and, if necessary, go to court.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (18 012 138)

Statement Not upheld Council house sales and leaseholders 18-Oct-2019

Summary: Ms D complains that the Council has not properly dealt with the purchase of her flat. The Council was not at fault.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (19 001 608)

Statement Upheld Council house sales and leaseholders 17-Oct-2019

Summary: The Council failed to deduct rent paid from the purchase price of a right to buy flat although the purchaser had served an operative notice of delay. The Council also failed to reply to a complaint. The Council accepts it made errors and will reimburse rent to the purchaser and reply to her complaint. It will also apologise to her and pay her £100 for her unnecessary time and trouble.

London Borough of Ealing (19 008 074)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council house sales and leaseholders 15-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about delay in completing a new build property which he is buying from the Council. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because the complaint concerns a private conveyance and he would need to take legal proceedings in the courts if he believes the Council breached its contract.

London Borough of Newham (19 008 061)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council house sales and leaseholders 08-Oct-2019

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr Q’s complaint about the Council’s alleged delay in providing the information he needed to remortgage his property. This is because he has been to court.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (18 019 607)

Statement Upheld Council house sales and leaseholders 30-Sep-2019

Summary: There was fault by the Council. It took too long to complete the sale of the leasehold interest to Miss B under the right to buy scheme. It sent wrongly dated letters and it failed to deal with her complaint in accordance with its complaints process. This caused Miss B distress and frustration and she had to renew her mortgage offer and pay more that she should have. The Council has apologised to Miss B and offered to pay her £10,495. It will also share this decision with its relevant officers reminding them that letters should be properly dated, and staff should follow the complaints process.

London Borough of Haringey (18 019 765)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council house sales and leaseholders 10-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s delay in processing his parents’ Right to Buy application. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation. Mr X’s parents could have triggered the statutory Notice of Delay procedure if they had met all the requirements of the Right to Buy procedure.

Crawley Borough Council (19 005 530)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council house sales and leaseholders 29-Aug-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the complainant’s right to buy application. This is because it is reasonable to expect the complaint to pursue the matter in the County Court.

Birmingham City Council (19 004 998)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council house sales and leaseholders 20-Aug-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about delay in the right to buy process, and ownership of a strip of land to the side of the property. This is because it is reasonable to expect the complainant to have contacted the Ombudsman sooner, and it is not the Ombudsman’s role to adjudicate in boundary disputes.

Bristol City Council (19 000 217)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council house sales and leaseholders 15-May-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council’s offer notice in the right to buy process. This is because it is not unreasonable to expect Mr B to seek a remedy by going to court.