Isle of Wight Council (25 012 852)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 04-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council tax overpayment as the original decision could be appealed to a tribunal and is out of time. There is also insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Bromley (25 005 254)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 03-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council handled a housing benefit application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

London Borough of Enfield (25 012 646)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 03-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about housing benefit payments because the complaint is out of time.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (25 007 250)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 28-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council providing the wrong advice about claiming Universal Credit. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault to justify investigation.

London Borough of Islington (24 022 489)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 21-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Ms X’s application for a discretionary housing payment. This is because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

Southampton City Council (25 009 164)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 15-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons for this.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (25 008 063)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 14-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment and the Council’s advice regarding claiming council tax support. This is because there is insufficient injustice regarding the overpayment. The council tax support complaint is late and there are no good reasons for this.

London Borough of Lambeth (24 018 194)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 09-Oct-2025

Summary: Mr Q’s representative complained on his behalf about the Council’s handling of his application for Housing Benefit. They complained the Council had significant delay, did not keep him properly updated, and incorrectly refused his claim. We cannot say whether the Council’s refusal of his claim was the correct decision because it has been appealed to a tribunal, however we find the Council at fault for delays, poor communication and poor complaint handling which caused significant uncertainty, frustration and time and trouble. The Council agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment for the injustice.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (23 013 616)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 09-Oct-2025

Summary: The Council was at fault when it stopped Mr X’s housing benefit in March 2018. The Council subsequently reversed its March 2018 decision. The Council has apologised and this is a suitable remedy for the impact of this fault. The Council was not at fault for the advice given to Mr X in 2018 to apply for universal credit based on the circumstances at that time.

London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (25 009 288)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 09-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s housing benefit and discretionary housing payment decisions. This is because Ms X has appealed to a Tribunal. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council regarding its consideration of the DHP claim. We cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing.