New Forest District Council (23 006 323)
Category : Housing > Allocations
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 09 Oct 2023
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council closing Mr X’s housing application. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council closed his housing application so he cannot bid on properties on the Council’s website.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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 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))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The Council said it sent Mr X an email in April 2023 to update his housing register application with his current housing circumstances and to provide some supporting documentation.
- The Council completed a change of circumstances form in May 2023. The Council asked for some remaining documents in June 2023. The Council sent the list of documents required again in August 2023.
- The Council said Mr X has not provided the documents it has requested so Mr X’s application is pending. It confirmed it could only assess Mr X’s application to join the housing register once Mr X provides the required information. The Council confirmed Mr X’s application was not closed.
- An investigation is not justified as there is insufficient evidence of fault. The Council can request documents that it considers it needs to complete its assessment of Mr X’s housing register application. It is open to Mr X to provide the documents the Council needs. If Mr X cannot provide the documents, it is reasonable for him to explain to the Council the reasons why so the Council can consider them.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman