Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s tenancy agreement. This is because the law says we cannot investigate the actions of the Council acting as a registered social housing provider.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council offered him a joint tenancy for social housing but did not name him on the final tenancy agreement.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
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)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. Mr X said the Council did not name him on a joint tenancy agreement he said he should be named on. This is a complaint about the provision or management of social housing by the Council as a registered social housing provider. Therefore, we cannot investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is about the provision or management of social housing by a Council acting as a registered social housing provider.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman