Adur District Council (23 002 363)
Category : Benefits and tax > Housing benefit and council tax benefit
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 08 Jun 2023
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s housing authority’s failure to contact Universal Credit regarding Mr X’s tenancy. We have no jurisdiction to consider complaints about social housing landlords.
The complaint
- Mr X complained about his Council’s landlord’s failure to inform the Universal Credit authority about changes to his rented home which affect the rent. His home was reduced from 3 bedrooms to 2 bedrooms following the installation of a lift to assist with his wife’s disabilities. He says he has been charged for an additional bedroom since his tenancy began in May 2022.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We cannot investigate complaints about the provision or management of social housing by a council acting as a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5A schedule 5, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered the information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X says his rent benefit has been reduced by the Universal Credit authority because he is considered to be under-occupying his home which is registered as being a 3-bedroom property. He says this is incorrect because one bedroom is occupied by a lift adaptation for his wife’s access problems due to her disability.
- He says he has asked the Council to advise the Universal Credit agency that this is the case several times and has complained via his Member of Parliament without success.
- We have no authority to investigate complaints about social housing landlords. These bodies are outside our jurisdiction and we have no discretion to consider Mr X’s complaint further.
Final decision
- We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s housing authority’s failure to contact Universal Credit regarding Mr X’s tenancy. We have no jurisdiction to consider complaints about social housing landlords.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman