Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Mr X’s housing application. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about his housing banding priority being reduced from band 3 to band 4 following his change of address three years ago. He says he should have remained in band 3 and wants the Council to amend his priority.

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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:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered the information provided by the complainant and the Council. I have also considered the Council’s housing allocations policy.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X says his housing priority banding was changed when he moved to a different address in 2018. He says he does not understand why his banding was changed from that time.
6. The Council told him that when an applicant changes address, they must complete a new housing application because the original one is based on the housing circumstances of the applicant at the time and different properties will have different layouts and features. Mr X’s application banding was changed to band 4 because his household is a couple in a 1-bedroom property which is regarded as being adequately housed. The Council advised Mr X that if his household has changed it is important for him to notify it.
7. The Ombudsman may not find fault with a council’s assessment of a housing application/ a housing applicant’s priority if it has carried this out in line with its published allocations scheme. We recognise that the demand for social housing far outstrips the supply of properties in many areas.
8. I have seen no evidence of fault which would suggest that Mr X should be placed in a higher banding.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Mr X’s housing application. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman