Reading Borough Council (25 021 883)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 19-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council managed Miss X’s Discretionary Housing Payment applications and her request for council tax hardship relief. This is because it is late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to investigate it now. Of the remaining element, there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.

North Yorkshire Council (25 007 216)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-May-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of business rates. This is because part of the complaint is late, there is another body better placed to consider part of the complaint, and it has been considered by a court.

Birmingham City Council (25 016 221)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 18-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about liability for

London Borough of Lambeth (25 023 232)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 18-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about housing benefit overpayments and how the Council handled her housing benefit claim. It is reasonable to expect Ms X to appeal to a tribunal.

Birmingham City Council (25 023 352)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 18-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council handled his council tax account. A further investigation is unlikely to achieve anything worthwhile.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (25 027 571)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 18-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax because an appeal to a valuation tribunal has been used and the complaint is partly out of time. There is also insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Enfield (25 027 989)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 18-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax liability because a right of appeal to a valuation tribunal has been used.

South Gloucestershire Council (25 011 645)

Statement Not upheld Other 17-May-2026

Summary: Mr X complained the Council wrongly pursued his company for business rates after it had assigned the lease of the premises to another business. He said the Council sent correspondence to the wrong address, so the company did not know about the outstanding balance until enforcement agents became involved. We have not found fault in the Council’s administrative handling of the address it used for the bill, reminder and summons. The evidence shows the Council sent those notices to the correspondence address it had been given for the account.

London Borough of Lewisham (25 004 650)

Statement Not upheld Other 14-May-2026

Summary: We have ended our investigation into whether Miss X is liable for business rates. The Ombudsman cannot alter the business rating list or decide on Miss X’s liability. We cannot achieve the outcome Miss X wants. The Valuation Office Agency is responsible for updating the business rating list. We cannot investigate the actions of the Valuation Office Agency.

Torridge District Council (25 010 195)

Statement Upheld Council tax 14-May-2026

Summary: We found fault with the Council for delays in setting up the Council Tax account in Ms X’s name. We also found fault with the Council delaying calculating and applying a Council Tax Reduction for Ms X. The Council agreed to apologise to Ms X and provide a symbolic financial gesture for the injustice its fault caused.