Bristol City Council (24 020 931)
Category : Housing > Allocations
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 09 Jun 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with Mr X’s housing application. This is because it is made late, and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and consider it now.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about how the Council dealt with his application for housing. He feels that he should be in a higher band and allowed to bid on properties with two bedrooms or more.
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 provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- In October 2023, the Council accepted Mr X onto the housing register at Band 2 and allowed him to bid on properties with one bedroom. Mr X disagrees and feels the Council should allow him to bid on properties with two or more bedrooms, because he has two children that live with him part of the time. Mr X also feels he should be allocated to Band 1.
- I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. The Council’s decision was made in October 2023, but he did not complain to the Ombudsman for more than a year. I see no good reason why he could not have done so sooner.
- Mr X has recently submitted a change of circumstances application, which the Council is considering. If Mr X is dissatisfied with the outcome, he may raise a new complaint with the Ombudsman once he has completed the Council’s review process.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late, and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and consider it now
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman