Birmingham City Council (24 016 581)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council's handling of a council tax account as the alleged fault by the Council does not cause Mr X a level of injustice that would justify our further involvement

Cheshire East Council (24 019 871)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax payments as there is no evidence of fault by the Council and part of the complaint is out of time.

Leicester City Council (24 020 563)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax discounts as there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Rossendale Borough Council (24 020 671)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax banding as the decision was made by a body out of jurisdiction.

Trafford Council (24 009 188)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 10-Mar-2025

Summary: Mrs X and Ms Y, representatives of this complaint, and executors of Mr Z’s estate, complain about the Council’s failure to forward an appeal regarding an alleged overpayment to the Tribunal. We have discontinued our investigation. The Council has since forwarded the appeal to the Tribunal, and further investigation would not achieve a worthwhile outcome.

London Borough of Enfield (24 011 503)

Statement Upheld Council tax 10-Mar-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council took legal action regarding unpaid council tax without allowing for the postal system to deliver notification of proceedings. Mrs X also complained the Council failed to deal with the matter when she tried to resolve the issue. She says the Council’s actions caused avoidable stress and led to additional costs. The Council is not at fault regarding its notification to Mrs X. However, we found service failure regarding the Council’s subsequent communication. The Council has agreed to provide a financial remedy and make service improvements.

Bristol City Council (24 014 400)

Statement Upheld Council tax 10-Mar-2025

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council incorrectly informed him that he did not need to pay council tax as his property was listed as HMO. Mr X was later informed he was liable for council tax from September 2023. We have concluded our investigation with a finding of fault. The Council acknowledges it provided Mr X with incorrect information and has proposed a suitable remedy.

South Norfolk District Council (24 017 296)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 10-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council issuing a misleading council tax demand. There is insufficient evidence of fault which has caused any significant injustice to warrant an investigation.

Shropshire Council (24 005 723)

Statement Not upheld Council tax 07-Mar-2025

Summary: Mr X owns a building within the curtilage of his home. He says the Council told him the building would be exempt from Council Tax. As a result, he registered the building with a holiday letting company. Approximately six months later the Council said that no exemption applied and that he was liable for full Council Tax. We found no fault by the Council.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (24 017 343)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 05-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about incorrect application of empty property relief to business rates liability. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant it.