Archive has 49 results
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South Oxfordshire District Council (20 000 827)
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Building control 12-Aug-2020
Summary: Mr X complains the Council has failed to take proper account of guidance relating to certifying electrical work. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
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Bedford Borough Council (19 013 457)
Statement Not upheld Building control 10-Aug-2020
Summary: There is no evidence of fault in how the Council pursued the complainant for payment of outstanding building control fees. Although the complainant was vulnerable, the Council took account of this in accordance with its policy, and so the Ombudsman cannot criticise its decision to apply for a County Court Judgement. For this reason, the Ombudsman has completed his investigation.
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Wokingham Borough Council (19 019 454)
Statement Upheld Building control 29-Jul-2020
Summary: The Council delayed in issuing a completion certificate to Mr Q and failed to respond to his correspondence. The Ombudsman finds this is fault. However, we do not intend to investigate the complaint as we consider the Council’s apology, changes to procedures and offer of £100 remedies the injustice caused. And further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.
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London Borough of Lewisham (20 000 847)
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Building control 27-Jul-2020
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint that the Council failed to ensure her neighbour’s compliance with the requirements of the Party Wall Act 1996. This is because the complaint is late and it is not the Council’s responsibility to enforce this legislation.
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Fareham Borough Council (19 021 029)
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Building control 17-Jul-2020
Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to control noise from his neighbour’s extension developments. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.
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London Borough of Croydon (19 011 481)
Statement Upheld Building control 15-Jul-2020
Summary: Mr B complains the Council’s building control officers gave contradictory and inconsistent advice. The Ombudsman finds no evidence of fault by the Council in this regard. There was some fault in the handling of the complaint leading to delay, for which an apology has been given, and the Council has agreed to identify and implement improvements in its complaint handling.
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Brighton & Hove City Council (19 019 977)
Statement Closed after initial enquiries Building control 03-Jul-2020
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to deal with a structure he considers dangerous. The Council’s decision not to take formal action is a matter of professional judgement and it is unlikely we would find fault in the way it was reached.
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Statement Closed after initial enquiries Building control 24-Jun-2020
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about substandard building work to his property carried out more than 50 years ago. This is because we cannot achieve any worthwhile outcome for Mr X.
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London Borough of Bromley (19 005 144)
Statement Not upheld Building control 22-Jun-2020
Summary: Mr B complains the Council was at fault in the way it dealt with his concerns about discharge from a neighbour’s boiler flue. The Ombudsman has found no evidence of fault in the way the Council considered these matters so has completed his investigation.
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Leeds City Council (17 008 131)
Statement Upheld Building control 09-Jun-2020
Summary: Mrs X complained the Council misled her when it sent a certificate that she relied on to buy a house. The certificate said that structural repairs had been carried out and the work was inspected, but the Council had no records to show its statements were correct. Mrs X discovered the work had not been carried out properly and her house needed extensive repairs. The Council agreed a settlement with Mrs X. In liaison with an independent expert, it also devised a repair and examination scheme, which it continues to use to check for similar structural problems. The Council was at fault for sending Mrs X a certificate which made claims it could not verify. To evaluate whether other properties are similarly affected, the Council should continue its examination and repair scheme. It should also consider any comments from the independent expert before deciding what further action, if any, is necessary.