London Borough of Lewisham (25 011 608)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 02 Dec 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons for this.
The complaint
- Ms X complains the Council has made her liable for a period ending in early 2022 but she left the property before this and the Council failed to apply the correct exemptions and discounts. She also says the Council’s pursuit of the outstanding council tax has caused her distress and financial hardship.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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).
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
- The Council considers Ms X is liable for council tax at a property for a period ending early 2022. It said it asked her for evidence her occupancy ended earlier and for evidence the other occupiers were students.
- Ms X said she complained to the Council about this in February 2023.
- Ms X was aware in early 2023 the Council considered her liable, but she did not complain to the Ombudsman until August 2025.
- Ms X’s complaint relates to issues she became aware of more than 12 months ago, and I see no good reason why she could not have complained to us sooner.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons for this.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman