Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a report of anti-social behaviour. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to take action against his neighbour after they assaulted him. Mr X said he is fearful to remain in his property. He said the Police failed to investigate the matter properly. Mr X said he has received no meaningful response from the Council. He said that has left him feeling isolated. He wants steps to be taken to ensure his safety.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Information provided by the Council shows Mr X contacted it at the start of 2025, stating his neighbour had assaulted him. He also reported incidents of criminal damage. Based on Mr X’s report, the Council passed Mr X’s report of assault and criminal damage onto the Police for investigation. This was the correct course of action given the severity of the ASB Mr X reported.
6. The Council also passed details of the assault onto the Housing Association responsible for Mr X’s neighbour’s tenancy. In an email to Mr X, it explained the Housing Association had a dedicated team to investigate reports of ASB about its tenants. It said the Housing Association could potentially take tenancy action against his neighbour. It said that was not something it could do.
7. In Mr X’s contact to the Council, he also referred to involvement from the Council’s Environmental Health Service. The Council confirmed that it had closed a previous investigation into allegations of noise nuisance after finding no evidence of this. The Council provided a link for Mr X if he wanted to contact its Environmental Health team further.
8. The Council also provided a link to its housing Service. It said Mr X could contact that service for Housing Advice, if he felt unable to remain in his property.
9. We will not investigate this complaint Mr X’s complaint the Council has not taken actions against his neighbour further. The Council passed the concerns onto the Police and Housing Association and set out its reasons for this. It signposted Mr X to its Housing Service. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.
10. The Council has said it has had no contact from Mr X since his initial report in January 2025. If the matter of the ASB remains unresolved, Mr X needs to contact the Council for it to consider what steps it can take next.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman