Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the complainant cannot join the housing register. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I refer to as Mr X, disagrees with the Council’s decision that he cannot join the housing register. He wants to join the register because he is a key worker and lives in overcrowded conditions.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates 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 an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council. This includes the housing application, Mr X’s appeal and the decision letters. I also considered our Assessment Code and invited Mr X to comment on a draft of this decision.

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My assessment

4. People must meet the local connection rules to join the housing register. This includes people who have lived in the area for at least six years or have a close relative who has been living in the area for six years. Key workers may satisfy the rules if they are newly qualified and need to move to the area to take up a job offer.
5. Mr X applied to join the housing register in 2023. He said he needed to move because his accommodation is overcrowded. He also said he is a key worker. He provided a copy of his employment contract which showed he started work in 2020. Mr X stated on his application that he has not lived in the area for six years and does not have any close relatives that meet the rule.
6. The Council refused the application because Mr X does not meet the local connection requirements. It explained he has not lived in the area for long enough and does not meet the rules through a relative. The Council also explained that as his job started in 2020 he does not need to move to the area to take up a job offer.
7. I appreciate Mr X wants to join the housing register but the Council’s decision reflects the policy so there is no reason to start an investigation. We do not act as an appeal body and we could not ask the Council to allow Mr X to join the register when that would be contrary to the policy.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman