Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council handled Ms X’s reports of anti-social behaviour. The complaint is late and there are no good reasons for us to exercise discretion to consider it now.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about how the Council handled her reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) while she lived in its area between 2019-2023.
2. Ms X says the matter led her to sell her property at a loss and leave the area.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. Ms X said the Council failed to act when she reported ASB between 2019-2023.
8. Ms X sold her property in the Council’s area in 2023. She said she was forced to sell the property below market value to escape ASB.
9. Ms X complained to the Ombudsman in August 2026.
10. As outlined in paragraph four, we cannot investigate late complaints without good reasons to do so. A late complaint is where a person has known about a matter for more than 12 months.
11. I have seen no good reasons why Ms X could not have complained to the Ombudsman sooner. There are no good reasons for us to exercise discretion to consider this complaint now and so we will not investigate.

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Final decision

12. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons for us to exercise discretion to consider it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman