London Borough of Haringey (25 004 205)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 18 Aug 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax arrears because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
The complaint
- The complainant, Mr X, says the Council is pursuing him for council tax for his former home. He says he does not owe any money and cannot afford to pay.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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 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))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council. This includes the complaint correspondence and an update about the arrears. I also considered our Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X was getting full council tax reduction (CTR) in 2022. The Council ended the award in 2022 because the Department for Work and Pensions told the Council Mr X was working. Mr X says he only worked for a short time. He says he tried to complain in 2022. Mr X says he was unwell at that time following a traumatic event.
- Since 2022 Mr X has not re-claimed CTR and has accrued council tax arrears. He currently owes £646 and the arrears cover 2022 to October 2024 when he moved home. The Council obtained liability orders which allows it to take recovery action.
- Mr X says he does not owe any council tax but the Council sent him a breakdown of the arrears. In addition, each new council tax bill would have shown the arrears and that he was not receiving any CTR. The Council would have issued reminders and information about the court action.
- The Council asked Mr X to complete and income and expenditure form and make a payment offer to pay the arrears.
- I will not start an investigation because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. The documents show Mr X has arrears and the Council has invited a payment plan. In addition, Mr X could have re-applied for CTR and, providing his income was low enough, he would have received support to pay the council tax. I appreciate having arrears is stressful and Mr X has said he cannot pay, but I have not seen anything to suggest we need to start an investigation.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman