Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to remove her from its housing register. There is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the Council’s decision to remove her from its housing register. She says she cannot afford her rent and she is not safe in the property. She wants the Council to provide her with suitable housing.

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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.

(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. Ms X applied to the Council to renew her application on its housing register. The Council considered her application but decided she no longer met the criteria and so removed her from the register. Ms X disagreed with this decision and requested a review.
6. The Council reviewed her application but did not change its decision. In its decision letter, it explained how it had considered the evidence she had provided and reached its decision. It provided her with advice about where to access support with housing, if she felt unsafe or was struggling to afford her rent.
7. We will not investigate the complaint as there is insufficient evidence of fault. The Council appropriately considered Ms X’s application and her supporting evidence. It has explained to her the reasons why it has decided she does not meet the housing register criteria. The Council’s decision appears in line with its allocations policy and so it is unlikely an investigation would reach a finding of fault.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman