Sevenoaks District Council (20 006 682)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint that the Council will not reimburse her for accommodation costs she paid for a homeless friend. It was Ms X’s choice to meet these costs and she is not therefore directly caused an injustice by the alleged Council fault.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (19 016 517)

Statement Upheld Other 16-Nov-2020

Summary: Ms X complains about how the Council handled her move with its Homestart Scheme and damage to her belongings during the move. The Ombudsman finds the Council at fault for not telling Ms X about the 7 day deadline to report damaged items, the time taken to progress the complaint with the removal contractor and for the standard of its complaint handling. The Council has agreed to remedy the injustice caused to Ms X.

New Forest District Council (19 016 330)

Statement Not upheld Other 13-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council did not let him use its rent in advance and deposit scheme to rent out his property when taking on his latest tenant. Mr X says the Council has applied a blanket-ban for the use of his property on the scheme without explanation. The Ombudsman did not find fault with the actions of the Council.

Birmingham City Council (20 006 050)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s claim for compensation for damage to his property which he says was caused by delay in the Council carrying out repairs to a water leak in his building. This is because it is reasonable to expect Mr X to take court action for the compensation he seeks.

London Borough of Camden (20 005 509)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complains a Council officer wrongly told a colleague he was abusive in a telephone call. The Ombudsman will not investigate as he cannot change the outcome of the complaint and the injustice to Mr X is not sufficient to warrant his involvement.

Dover District Council (20 001 279)

Statement Upheld Other 30-Oct-2020

Summary: Ms X complained the Estate Agent, working on behalf of the Council, incorrectly told her she could purchase a 25% share of a new build shared ownership home when the minimum share purchase price was 40%. The Ombudsman finds the Council was at fault. That has caused Ms X a financial loss through surveyor fees and caused her avoidable distress. The Council has agreed to reimburse Ms X’s surveyor fees and pay her £150 to remedy the injustice caused.

South Ribble Borough Council (19 013 023)

Statement Not upheld Other 30-Oct-2020

Summary: Ms X complained the Council did not carry out adaptations she needed to meet her assessed needs and did not provide accommodation suitable to meet her needs. Ms X says she has suffered physically and mentally because of this situation. There was no fault in the Council’s actions.

Birmingham City Council (20 004 299)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 07-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs A complained about Council’s lack of enforcement action when she reported her neighbour is blocking her shared drive on Council owned land. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint. This is because this is a matter for the courts and it is out of time.

London Borough of Camden (20 002 857)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 16-Sep-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Ms B’s complaint about a rent advance refund. The Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints about the Council in its role as a provider or manager of social housing.

London Borough of Southwark (20 003 060)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 14-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of matters relating to costs he incurs as a freeholder liable for Council service charges. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because we are unlikely to be able to add to the investigation already carried out by the Council and if Mr X wants to challenge the terms of his contract with the Council he can take legal action through the courts.