East Lindsey District Council (21 017 379)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 21-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ because the complainant can use her review and appeal rights.

London Borough of Haringey (21 008 103)

Statement Upheld Other 18-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council incorrectly applied a retail discount to his company’s business rates account. The Council was at fault. It incorrectly applied the discount on the account, then billed Mr X’s company without proper communication and then withdrew an offer to cancel some of the debt after Mr X had made a substantial payment. The Council has agreed it will pay Mr X £300 to acknowledge the distress and frustration this caused him.

London Borough of Ealing (21 017 285)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 16-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax liability. It would be reasonable for the complainant to appeal against the bill at the Valuation Tribunal, and we cannot investigate the Council taking court action for enforcement and recovery of an unpaid council tax bill.

London Borough of Haringey (21 017 473)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 16-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax. This is because it is reasonable to expect Ms Y to appeal to the tribunal.

Manchester City Council (21 006 849)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 15-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to provide information about business grants causing him to miss out. We found no evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Bromley (21 011 401)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 15-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs C complains about how the Council handled her housing benefit. She says she did not receive letters about changes to her housing benefit award which led to her being in arrears, and some of her housing benefit was allocated towards a property she had already vacated. We have discontinued this investigation as the Council has already resolved the matter the Ombudsman is able to investigate.

Westminster City Council (21 017 043)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 14-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to award her two self-isolation support payments. This is because there is no evidence of fault by the Council affecting its decisions.

West Lindsey District Council (21 017 190)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 11-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision on council tax liability as this is best dealt with by the Valuation Tribunal Service.

London Borough of Southwark (21 016 964)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 11-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council wrongly sending Mr X a summons for council tax. The Council has offered a payment to Mr X in recognition of its fault, and we cannot add to that. I do not consider the Council’s contact with Mr X about a single person discount caused him sufficient injustice to warrant our involvement.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (21 004 503)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 11-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained on behalf of a company which, in 2020, did not receive a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant set up to support businesses impacted by COVID-19. We find fault in the Council’s customer service and in its explanation for the non-award. This has caused injustice in the form of uncertainty, time and trouble and the Council has agreed to apologise for this. However, we do not consider the Council could have paid the company a grant for reasons explained in this statement.