Hastings Borough Council (20 007 132)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 08-Dec-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s actions in pursuing her for council tax when she was not the person liable. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because it is a late complaint and because we would reasonably to have expected her to have used her appeal rights to the Valuation Tribunal.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (20 007 013)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 07-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council billing him as a landlord for unpaid council tax due on rental flats when the tenant has left before the end of the tenancy. We should not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint. This is because it concerns matters which Mr X was aware of before the 12-month period for receiving complaints. It is reasonable for him to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal to challenge liability where the Council has billed him instead of his tenant.

Huntingdonshire District Council (20 007 686)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 07-Dec-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s council tax policy to remove a discount in relation to empty properties. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council causing significant injustice to Ms X.

London Borough of Lambeth (19 016 156)

Statement Upheld Council tax 07-Dec-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s handling of her council tax account. We have completed our investigation. The Council is at fault for not making a decision about Ms X’s application for discretionary relief. The Council should apologise, pay Ms X £150, and issue a decision.

London Borough of Croydon (20 006 684)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 03-Dec-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that it is unreasonable for the Council to bill the complainant in 2020 for council tax that arose in 2017. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because the complainant could have appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.

Darlington Borough Council (20 006 553)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 03-Dec-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council wrongly making the complainant liable for council tax. This is because the Council has provided a fair response and there is not enough remaining injustice to require an investigation.

Northumberland County Council (20 006 911)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 02-Dec-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about her liability for council tax on a property and the Council’s subsequent bankruptcy proceedings. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter is out of time, there was a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal and the bankruptcy is a matter for the courts.

Stroud District Council (20 008 415)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 01-Dec-2020

Summary: The Valuation Tribunal is the appropriate body to decide Mrs X’s dispute about her council tax liability. We will not therefore investigate.

London Borough of Harrow (20 004 760)

Statement Upheld Council tax 30-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr B complained about the way the Council dealt with the recovery of his council tax arrears. The Council agreed it was at fault for not responding to Mr B’s proposal for a repayment plan. However, the Council’s apology and removal of the summons costs are an adequate remedy. In addition, the Ombudsman found no evidence of any fault in the Council’s enforcement action.

Vale of White Horse District Council (20 006 667)

Statement Upheld Council tax 30-Nov-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about delay by the Council in considering her request for council tax relief. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is no significant injustice as the request was not allowed and the Council has remedied the compliant about delay