Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council did not update its choice-based letting website. This is because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council has failed to update a section of its choice-based lettings website. He says this has prevented him from making informed bids on properties. He would like the Council to provide him with the information he has requested and ensure it keeps the website updated.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 or continue an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B)).

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. The Council’s choice-based lettings website enables housing register applicants to bid for available properties. The feedback section provides individuals with information about their historic bids which were unsuccessful. This includes the band and priority of the person who the property was allocated to.
6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council has failed to update this feedback section, so he has not been able to make informed bids.
7. Even without this information, Mr X is still able to place bids on properties. Also, some of the properties have been updated with information about successful bidders. Although frustrating for Mr X that not all the properties are updated, any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman