London Borough of Enfield (19 003 528)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 24-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council increasing the rent for a garage which he rents from the housing authority. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint. This is because the garage is rented from a social housing landlord and the Ombudsman has no jurisdiction to investigate social housing landlords.

London Borough of Wandsworth (18 018 343)

Statement Upheld Other 23-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr B complains that the Council’s Telecommunications Provider damaged his home. The Council was at fault because its Telecommunications Provider installed cabling to Mr B’s home outside of its agreement with the Council and without permission. The Telecommunications Provider has admitted it made a mistake and has offered to remove the installed cabling or to engage with Mr B to agree a solution. This is an adequate remedy.

Huntingdonshire District Council (19 003 731)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr B complains about the Council’s actions concerning his requests for information made under the Freedom of Information Act and its decision to seek payment of outstanding council tax arrears for a property he does not own. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because both matters fall outside our jurisdiction due to the availability of appeal rights to statutory tribunals.

London Borough of Brent (18 016 187)

Statement Not upheld Other 12-Jul-2019

Summary: Miss X complained about the suitability of temporary accommodation and the amount of times she had to move from one temporary accommodation to another between 2012 and 2019. She said the Council breached conditions of a supervision order which said it should liaise with another Council to accommodate her nearer her support network. The Council was not at fault. The supervision order expired in 2013 with no such condition attached to it. The Council followed the correct process when it moved Miss X to different temporary accommodation and dealt with her concerns appropriately.

Bassetlaw District Council (19 002 235)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 08-Jul-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to refund the cost of a drive which the complainant added to her Council home in 2014. This is because the Ombudsman cannot investigate a council when it is acting as a landlord.

Trafford Council (18 016 409)

Statement Upheld Other 01-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to make an agreed compensation payment following its compulsory purchase of a property. The Council is at fault. It has agreed to pay Mr X the amount owed and to apologise to him for the frustration he was caused by its delay.

St Albans City Council (19 004 817)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 27-Jun-2019

Summary: Ms X complains she has incurred costs as the Council has not properly maintained its property next door to Ms X. The Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints about the Council’s management of its housing stock as such matters are outside his legal jurisdiction.

Tendring District Council (19 002 673)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 27-Jun-2019

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss B’s complaint that the Council failed to follow procedure when her grandmother, Mrs C, failed to respond to a telecare system call. That is because it is about a service which is part of the Council’s management of its social housing.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (19 003 349)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 21-Jun-2019

Summary: A tenant of a housing association complained about the Council’s failure to move him from his property after he received threats of violence. But the Ombudsman cannot investigate this matter. This is because the Council has had no role in the tenant’s rehousing, and we have no jurisdiction to consider a complaint against a housing association.

London Borough of Merton (19 002 164)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-Jun-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to deal with a complaint about housing he says he raised in 1985. The Ombudsman should not investigate his complaint. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons for the Ombudsman to exercise discretion to consider it.