Summary: Mr X complains the Council has refused to let him succeed to his mother’s tenancy or offer him alternative accommodation. We have no legal power to investigate complaints about the Council’s management of social housing.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council has refused to allow him to succeed to his mother’s tenancy after she passed away. Mr X says the Council offered to move him to a one bedroom property but later withdrew this offer.
2. Mr X says the Council’s actions have caused him significant distress.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant which includes the Council’s response to his complaint.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

6. When a tenant dies it is possible for the tenancy to transfer to other residents living in the property.
7. This is a housing management issue, and these are matters for the Housing Ombudsman.

Back to top

Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we cannot investigate complaints about the Council’s management of social housing as a registered social housing provider.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman