Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council considered Mr X’s housing priority. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council has not taken his housing needs into account.
2. He says that the Council should transfer him and his family to a larger property or move him from Band B to Band A on the housing allocations register.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

6. Mr X disagrees with the Council’s decision to keep him in Band B of the housing allocations register. He also says that the Council should transfer him to more adequate housing.
7. Whilst I acknowledge Mr X’s frustration, I have found no evidence of fault with how the Council applied its Housing Allocations policy in assessing Mr X’s housing needs. Therefore, I cannot question the merits of their decision.

Final Decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman