Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s application to join the housing register. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Ms X, complains about the Council’s decision that she cannot join the housing register. She says she provided all the information and the application was complete.

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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 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 Ms X and the Council. This includes the housing application and evidence submitted by Ms X. I also considered our Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Ms X applied to join the housing register. The application form states applicants must provide financial information for each adult included on the application.
5. The Council closed the application because it decided Ms X had not provided all the information. The Council explained the missing information Ms X needed to send.
6. I will not start an investigation because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. I have looked at the evidence Ms X submitted and, while she submitted a bank statement for herself, she did not supply any financial information for her partner. In addition, the bank statement indicates Ms X receives a benefit but she did not provide evidence of the award. As such, there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council to require an investigation.
7. Ms X can supply the missing information and make a new application.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman