Brighton & Hove City Council (25 017 868)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 26 Mar 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a council tax discount. Mr X had a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, and it would have been reasonable to expect him to have used it.
The complaint
- Mr X complained about delays in the Council awarding a single occupant council tax discount.
- Mr X said this caused him financial difficulties and distress.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone has a right of appeal, reference or review to a tribunal about the same matter. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to use this right. (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 considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complained the Council delayed awarding him a single occupant council tax discount. Mr X said the Council overcharged him until it awarded the discount.
- In its complaint response, the Council apologised for the delay and backdated the discount, refunding Mr X the overpayments he had made.
- Any dispute about a council tax discount can be appealed to the Valuation Tribunal. The Tribunal is an independent body which can determine any dispute about such decisions.
- It was reasonable to expect Mr X to have used this right of appeal as the Tribunal was set up to consider such disputes. I see no reason why an appeal could not have been made in this case and so, as outlined in paragraph three, the law says we cannot investigate.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he had a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, and it would have been reasonable to expect him to have used it.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman