Manchester City Council (20 009 020)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 01-Feb-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate part of this housing benefit complaint because the complainant appealed to the tribunal. We will not investigate another part of the complaint because the Council has offered a fair remedy.

Hartlepool Borough Council (20 004 182)

Statement Not upheld Council tax support 27-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to properly advise him when he called it in May 2019 to discuss his entitlement to Council tax reduction. He also complained the Council failed to keep a record of his call. I have discontinued my investigation. This is because there is no evidence supporting Mr X’s statements and no evidence of fault on the part of the Council.

London Borough of Lambeth (19 020 203)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 14-Jan-2021

Summary: Miss X complains the Council did not properly deal with her Council Tax bills and her Council Tax Support. The Council is at fault because it did not deal with her complaint properly and sent Miss X confusing information and multiple bills with different amounts to pay. Miss X was unsure about what she had to pay. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X and pay her £100 for her time and trouble.

Oxford City Council (20 006 147)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 16-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision not to award a council tax discount on his property due to works carried out. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Three Rivers District Council (20 006 148)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 11-Nov-2020

Summary: Ms X complains that the Council has made errors with her council tax support claim. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

London Borough of Lewisham (19 015 222)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 11-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault by the Council on Miss F’s complaint about the way it handled her housing benefit and council tax reduction claims. It wrongly told her she could appeal a suspension decision. It failed to provide a copy of a letter it sent in response to her appeal request. It delayed dealing with her request to appeal its decision to end her claims by 4 months. It failed to act on a separate appeal to add her baby to the household. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (19 016 423)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 03-Nov-2020

Summary: Miss X complains the Council is incorrectly seeking payment of council tax from her. She says the Council re-calculated her council tax liability and is wrongly seeking payment through the courts. Miss X says the Council’s actions caused her unnecessary stress and anxiety. The Ombudsman finds no fault in the Council seeking recovery of unpaid council tax, but some fault in the way it handled Miss X’s complaint. The Council has agreed to provide a remedy to address the injustice to Miss X.

London Borough of Hounslow (20 002 994)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 08-Oct-2020

Summary: Ms A complained about the Councils decision to withdraw the Council Tax support it was providing her with. The Ombudsman will not exercise his discretion to investigate this complaint. This is because disputes over the council tax support payment are best considered in court or tribunal and the complaint is out of time.

South Holland District Council (19 018 693)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 06-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs X says the Council has failed to consider her ask for a review of its decision not to backdate Council Tax Support to January 2019. The Ombudsman has found fault with the Council’s actions because it has not considered Mrs X’s review request or provided her with details of how to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. Therefore, he recommended the Council consider her review request, pay her £150 in recognition of the distress and time and trouble and caused to her in pursuing this matter and apologise. The Council agreed.

Maidstone Borough Council (20 004 019)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 05-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s calculation of Mrs X’s council tax liability. This is because Mrs X has the right of appeal against this decision to the Valuation Tribunal.