Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons for this.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains the Council pursued her for council tax from 2019 for a property she was not liable for as she left much earlier. She says this caused her distress and financial hardship

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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

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

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My assessment

4. Ms X’s complaint relates to a matter that she was aware of from 2019. However, she did not complain to the Ombudsman until July 2025.
5. Ms X’s complaint is late because it is about an issue she was aware of more than 12 months ago. I do not consider there are good reasons for the delay in coming to the Ombudsman.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons for the delay in bring it to the Ombudsman.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman