Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with the complainant’s council tax account. This is because we are unlikely to find fault.

The complaint

1. Mr X has complained the Council failed to contact him about council tax arrears for a property he owns. Mr X says he incurred additional costs because of the Council’s actions.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
3. We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X says the Council sent council tax bills for his rental property to an address he no longer lives at. The Council says it was contacted and informed that the tenants of the rental property moved out in June 2024. Mr X’s details were given as the landlord for the property. The Council issued a council tax bill to Mr X at the address it had been provided. Payment was not received, and a reminder was sent followed by a council tax summons. As the balance remained outstanding, a liability order was granted, and the debt was referred to enforcement agents.
7. Mr X says the Council should refund the additional fees he incurred as he did not receive the bill or any of the Council’s letters about the arrears or recovery action.
8. However, the Council was required to send the documents to the last known address it had for Mr X. This was the address provided when the former tenants left the property. Mr X says the Council had the correct contact information for him. But this related to another property and the Council did not have any information to suggest the properties should be linked. As the Council followed the correct process when sending the council tax documents, it is unlikely we would find fault.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we are unlikely to find fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman