Bristol City Council (25 017 196)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 07 Apr 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint on behalf of Mr Y about being wrongly billed for Council Tax as Mr Y appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.
The complaint
- Mr X on behalf of Mr Y, complained that the Council billed a student for Council Tax in an unfair manner. Mr X feels the Council communicated poorly at several different stages, and progressed to recovery measures too quickly.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal or a government minister or started court action about the matter. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6), as amended)
- The Valuation Tribunal deals with appeals against decisions on council tax support or reduction.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X on behalf of Mr Y complained the Council incorrectly billed a student for Council Tax. Mr X states the Council communicated poorly at different stages, and progressed to recovery measures too quickly. This caused distress to Mr Y while he tried to resolve the situation.
- Mr Y has appealed against the Council’s decision that he was liable for the Council Tax to the Valuation Tribunal. The Council has withdrawn the debt on the account.
- We are unable to investigate as Mr Y has appealed to the Valuation Tribunal. We cannot investigate Mr Y’s complaint about how the Council tried to recover the Council Tax as it is not separable from the liability decision which he has appealed.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint on behalf of Mr Y about being wrongly billed for Council Tax as Mr Y appealed to the Valuation Tribunal. We do not have the discretion to investigate the complaint.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman