London Borough of Lewisham (25 018 455)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 30-Mar-2026

Summary:Ms X said she made three council tax reduction claims from May 2025, but the Council failed to assess these. She says the Council’s communication was poor and its online council tax reduction service was inaccessible. The Council also continued enforcement action for council tax arrears when it should have held action due to a Breathing Space Moratorium. She says this caused her distress and affected her mental health.

Manchester City Council (25 002 304)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 29-Mar-2026

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s handling of his council tax account and his request for council tax support. We found fault by the Council because it took too long to decide Mr X’s appeal and to address his correspondence and complaints. This caused him uncertainty, frustration and put him to avoidable time and trouble. The Council agreed to apologise and make Mr X a symbolic payment.

Sunderland City Council (25 014 142)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 18-Mar-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s Council Tax reduction scheme. This is because Ms Y has appealed to the Valuation Tribunal Service. We will not investigate other parts of this complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault, or further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

West Oxfordshire District Council (25 026 815)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 18-Mar-2026

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

Sunderland City Council (25 017 089)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 11-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to retroactively bill Mr X for council tax. This is because the Valuation Tribunal would be best placed to consider this complaint.

Mid Suffolk District Council (25 025 994)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 11-Mar-2026

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

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 016 057)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 11-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with his mother’s Council tax and bedroom tax. This is because the issues have been considered by the Valuation Tribunal Service.

Liverpool City Council (25 016 303)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 06-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s council tax support scheme as the law says this can only be challenged in court by way of judicial review.

Redcar & Cleveland Council (25 018 174)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 05-Mar-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his council tax account. The Council has recently started court proceedings, so we have no power to investigate.

Birmingham City Council (25 015 520)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 17-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about her claim for council tax reduction. This is because there is an appeal right to the Valuation Tribunal and it is reasonable to expect Mrs X to use it.