Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a council tax matter. This is because there is another body better placed to consider it, and it is late.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council is using the wrong address for council tax correspondence. He says that this has caused him stress and difficulty making applications online due to confusion with the address.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as the Valuation Office Agency. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34(1), as amended).
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended).

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X says the Council has sent council tax bills to the wrong address since 2023. In May 2025 he complained to the Council he had tried to resolve the issue for two years. In December 2023 the Council sent him a summons but then withdrew it. He said this caused distress and negatively impacted his credit rating.
6. The Council noted Mr X’s difficult situation. But it said it was the Valuation Office Agency’s role to decide property addresses and the Council must collect council tax based on the VOA’s decision. It said it would continue to liaise with the VOA and had added a preferred billing address to Mr X’s account.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman