London Borough of Camden (24 006 748)
Category : Housing > Allocations
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 19 Sep 2024
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about housing allocations because it is late, without good reason to exercise discretion to investigate the complaint now.
The complaint
- Mr Y complained the Council failed to provide him with accommodation he bid on and had sufficient points to secure and have not provided him with a sufficient explanation.
- Mr Y says he has since bid on other properties but has not secured accommodation and remains in a hostel after four years.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information Mr Y provided and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The law says people should normally complain to us within 12 months of becoming aware of an issue. Complaints brought to the Ombudsman more than 12 months after someone becomes aware of something a council has done are considered late. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons.
- Mr Y’s was aware of his reason to complain about the Council’s actions when his bid for accommodation failed in 2022, more than 12 months ago. Consequently, the complaint is now late.
- We have discretion to disapply the rule outlined in paragraph four where we decide there are good reasons. Mr Y has not provided any good reasons why he did not bring the complaint to us within 12 months of knowing about the matter. It is reasonable to expect him to have complained sooner. We will not investigate.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint because it is late, without good reason to exercise discretion to investigate the complaint now.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman