Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s need to move to a suitable home. This is because there is nothing meaningful we could achieve as an outcome.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Ms X, complains the Council will not let her apply for three bedroom homes even though she needs to move for medical reasons. Ms X wants the Council to allow her to bid for a three bedroom home.

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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 an investigation if we decide an investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (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 Ms X and the Council. This includes an update from the Council about Ms X’s housing. I also considered our Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Ms X lives in a two bedroom home. The home is not large enough especially as some family members have medical needs. The Council registered Ms X for a four bedroom home and, for medical reasons, placed restrictions on the type of property she can bid for (for example, level access).
5. Ms X disagrees with the restrictions and, because her need to move is urgent, wanted the Council to allow her to bid for three bedroom homes as there would be a shorter waiting time.
6. The Council confirmed Ms X is in the correct band. The Council suggested Ms X consider other options due to the long waiting time for a four bedroom home.
7. The current position is that Ms X is about to sign a tenancy for a privately rented home; the Council provided financial support in securing the property.
8. We will not investigate this complaint because there is no meaningful outcome we could achieve. We have no power to re-house Ms X. We could only have considered if the Council had correctly assessed Ms X’s housing application and that will no longer apply because Ms X will soon be moving.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate this complaint because there is nothing meaningful we could achieve as an outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman