London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (19 011 267)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 06-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the enforcement action taken against him by the Council in connection with premises he owns and rents out. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because the availability of appeal rights to a property tribunal places the complaint outside our jurisdiction.

Portsmouth City Council (19 002 450)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 03-Dec-2019

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation of this complaint. Most of the events happened more than 12 months before Mrs X complained to the Ombudsman. There would also be practical difficulties in carrying out a robust and fair investigation of more recent events without investigating what happened up to ten years ago.

London Borough of Enfield (19 011 277)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 29-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms B’s complaint that the Council failed to comply with the requirements of a private lease scheme agreement. That is because it is reasonable to expect her to go to court if she remains dissatisfied.

Derbyshire County Council (18 015 862)

Statement Upheld Private housing 28-Nov-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about unsatisfactory works carried out at his property under the Council’s Healthy Homes programme. He also complains the Council has discriminated against him, as well as bullied and harassed him. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for the poor standard of work completed and for not responding to Mr X’s complaint about bullying, harassment and discrimination in a timely manner. We have made recommendations.

East Lindsey District Council (19 010 895)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 26-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of matters relating to the issuing of enforcement notices for a privately-owned property. This is because Mr X has appeal rights to a tribunal which we would reasonably expect him to use and so the complaint falls outside our jurisdiction.

Breckland District Council (19 009 315)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 26-Nov-2019

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s failure to inspect her housing association home under the HHSRS safety regulations. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation by the Ombudsman.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (18 015 191)

Statement Upheld Private housing 19-Nov-2019

Summary: Ms T complains that there was fault in the way the Council responded to her concerns about disrepair in her privately rented house. The Ombudsman is satisfied the Council acted appropriately by liaising with the landlord to get repairs completed. The Council was at fault in that it delayed significantly in responding to Ms T’s complaint. But this did not alter the outcome and the Council has apologised so the Ombudsman will not pursue this issue further.

Crawley Borough Council (19 010 950)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 19-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr A’s complaint that the Council failed to reimburse the losses he incurred and about the way the Council has dealt with the matter. This is because it is reasonable to expect him to go to court to seek a remedy.

Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council (19 011 386)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 12-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman does not have grounds to investigate this complaint from a homeowner that the Council has treated him unfairly by funding insulation works at his neighbour’s property but refusing to do the same in his case. This is because there is no sign of fault by the Council in this respect.

London Borough of Hackney (18 000 394)

Statement Upheld Private housing 07-Nov-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council handled his reports of disrepair and infestation in his private rented flat, and also about the way it handled housing benefit payments. The Council was at fault for not responding to Mr X’s complaint. It was not at fault for the way it handled the disrepair and infestation, nor for the way it handled the housing benefit claim.