Watford Borough Council (24 015 642)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 06 Jan 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax liability because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.
The complaint
- Mr X says that he received a Council tax bill for a property he had rented in 2019 before leaving the country.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone has a right of appeal, reference or review to a tribunal about the same matter. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to use this right. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)
- The Valuation Tribunal deals with appeals against decisions on council tax liability and council tax support or reduction.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X says that the Council holds him liable for Council on a previous property because the landlord had disputed whether he had left with proper notice.
- Any dispute about liability, discounts or exemptions from Council tax are a matter for the Valuation Tribunal. The tribunal is an independent body which can determine any dispute about such decisions. I see no reason why an appeal could not be made in this case and so the complaint is out of jurisdiction.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he can appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman