London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (25 012 803)
Category : Housing > Allocations
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 05 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s management of Miss X’s housing allocation. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.
The complaint
- Miss X complains the Council has failed to consider her and her family’s needs as it has not placed her in a suitable home.
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 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))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Miss X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Miss X complained the Council has failed to place her and her family in suitable accommodation despite an occupational therapist (OT) assessing Miss X as requiring a home with level access several years ago.
- The Council confirmed Miss X is living in an overcrowded home which requires adaptations in order for her to live comfortably. The Council said Miss X was at the highest band after it awarded Miss X additional priority when her assessment was carried out.
- Miss X wants us to find the Council at fault. The Ombudsman cannot question the merits of a decision the Council has made if it was made in line with the correct process. The Council has awarded Miss X the highest priority banding following an OT assessment. There is no evidence of fault in the Council’s actions. An investigation would therefore be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman