East Riding of Yorkshire Council (25 003 511)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs B’s complaint about the Council charging a council tax premium for second homes. This is because the law says such decisions can only be challenged by judicial review.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council (24 022 617)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 27-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the increase in business rates on his property. This is because we have not seen enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Liverpool City Council (24 022 835)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 27-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to make an ex-gratia payment after it made an error in calculating the complainant’s council tax support. This is because the Council has already provided a satisfactory remedy.

Buckinghamshire Council (25 000 292)

Statement Upheld Council tax 27-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the council tax empty homes premium. This is because the Council will invite the complainant to apply for discretionary financial support.

London Borough of Islington (24 021 117)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 22-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to decline her application for a discretionary housing payment. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

North West Leicestershire District Council (24 008 862)

Statement Upheld Council tax 21-May-2025

Summary: Miss X complained about how the Council handled her council tax account. The Council was at fault in how it considered its debt recovery process and communicated with Miss X about her complaint. This caused Miss X avoidable distress, time, and trouble. The Council agreed to apologise and pay a financial remedy. It will also decide what changes are needed to its processes, or staff training, to ensure it does not miss council tax queries in future.

Adur District Council (24 021 806)

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

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his housing benefit claims. This is because the matter is already subject to tribunal proceedings and there is no evidence of injustice to justify an investigation.

Birmingham City Council (24 022 987)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 21-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decisions relating to Mrs X’s property. The Council is not responsible for decisions about whether a property is uninhabitable, as the Valuation Office Agency makes such decisions. It is not proportionate to investigate peripheral matters, and the courts are best placed to consider complaints about what exemptions and discounts a council has decided to offer.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council (24 015 812)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 20-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit decision. This is because it was reasonable for the complainant to use his appeal rights to the Social Entitlement Chamber which is the statutory tribunal set up to consider housing benefit appeals.

Leicester City Council (24 022 106)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 20-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax premiums because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.