London Borough of Barnet (25 007 302)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 14 Sep 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability. This is because Mr X has appealed to a tribunal.
The complaint
- Mr X complained the Council has wrongly made him liable for council tax for a period 10 years earlier. However, he says the landlord had told tenants he was responsible. Mr X says the Council’s action has caused him stress and anxiety.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal about the same matter. We also cannot investigate a complaint if in doing so we would overlap with the role of a tribunal to decide something which has been or could have been referred to it to resolve using its own powers. (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 and the Council. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- In late 2024 the Council notified Mr X that he was liable for council tax from 2014. Mr X complained that the Council should not make him liable.
- Mr X appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.
- The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint because Mr X has appealed as set out in paragraph 2.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he has appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman