Birmingham City Council (24 015 810)
Category : Housing > Allocations
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 22 Jan 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an unsuccessful housing application because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
The complaint
- The complainant, Mr X, says the Council rejected his housing applications and said they were incomplete. Mr X wants the Council to re-open the application and say what went wrong.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council. This includes a copy of the housing applications and supporting evidence. I also considered our Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X applied to join the housing register. The Council decided he had not provided all the information required to support the application. In its most recent decision, the Council said Mr X had not provided enough financial information. It highlighted the need to provide copies of bank statements, and benefit letters dated within the last month.
- I considered the supporting documents Mr X submitted and he did not provide all the required information. For example, the benefit letters he sent have a 2023 date.
- I will not start an investigation because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. This is because Mr X did not provide all the required information to support the application. Mr X can reapply if he submits all the supporting evidence. Mr X could contact an advice agency if he needs support in making a successful application.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman