Bolsover District Council (19 014 229)

Statement Upheld Private housing 05-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about how the Council responded to his concerns about work carried out on his home. We found the Council did not check the work in progress and took too long to identify it had not been completed to the agreed standard. This caused inconvenience and frustration to Mr X and damage to his home. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr X, make a payment to recognise the injustice caused, and complete the outstanding works within three months.

Transport for London (20 000 541)

Statement Upheld Private housing 22-Dec-2020

Summary: The Authority, which was Mr X’s landlord, has accepted that it mistakenly instructed its contractors to gain entry to his property and change the locks. It has apologised, and it also agrees to make a payment of £200 to recognise his injustice.

Transport for London (20 006 269)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 15-Dec-2020

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation into Mr X’s complaint about how the Authority – which was his landlord – dealt with his security deposit. This matter did not cause him an injustice significant enough to justify our involvement.

Transport for London (20 006 670)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 15-Dec-2020

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation into Mr X’s complaint about noise from a tube station below his former property. It is unlikely we would find fault with the Authority.

Manchester City Council (20 004 373)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 09-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council failed to support him as a landlord when his tenant blocked access to his property. He says the Council could have contacted the tenant and told her Mr X had a legal right to access the property. The Ombudsman does not find the Council at fault.

Northampton Borough Council (19 010 741)

Statement Upheld Private housing 02-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr B complains that the Council refused to reimburse him for loss of rent and damage to his property under its Deposit Bond Scheme. Although the Council has now agreed to pay Mr B £450 after receipt of new information, the Ombudsman has found no fault in the way the Council decided that Mr B had not previously provided enough information to compensate him under the scheme. There was delay in responding to his complaint, but the Ombudsman considers the apology already provided sufficient remedy for any injustice that this has caused Mr B.

Crawley Borough Council (20 001 604)

Statement Upheld Private housing 24-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to meet its obligations to him as a landlord under its tenancy deposit scheme. The Ombudsman has completed our investigation. There is fault by the Council. It should apologise to Mr X, pay him £150, and take action to improve its service.

Peterborough City Council (20 002 638)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 23-Nov-2020

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Ms Y’s housing conditions. This is because part of the complaint is late and it is unlikely we would find the Council at fault.

London Borough of Enfield (19 005 886)

Statement Upheld Private housing 20-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr B complains on behalf of his parents who live next to a property that he believes to be empty and in poor condition. We uphold the complaint finding the Council has not adequately considered whether the property is empty and so should engage its empty homes approach. It has also provided poor customer service at times. This has caused distress to Mr B’s parents and another neighbour who supports his complaint. It has also caused him unnecessary time, trouble and frustration. The Council accepts these findings. At the end of this statement we set out the action it agrees to take to remedy this injustice.

Leeds City Council (20 005 751)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 18-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council charging private landlords for taking part in a Council scheme to install central heating. This is because Mr X was not caused a significant enough injustice to warrant investigation.