Mid Devon District Council (25 012 937)
Category : Housing > Allocations
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 10 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about housing allocations. The Complaint is late and it would have been reasonable for Mr X to have complained sooner.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council housed his family in unsuitable accommodation.
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
- The Council offered Mr X a council home in April 2024 under an introductory tenancy. Mr X moved into the property but found the property unsuitable because of antisocial behaviour from neighbours. Mr X also expressed distress because became aware the property has been subject to arson when a previous tenant lived there.
- The Council say Mr X was asked if he would like to report the antisocial behaviour and Mr X said he did not want to.
- Mr X also says there was damp and mould growth in previous accommodation he was placed in by the Council.
- Mr X complained to the Council about these matters in June 2024. We normally expect people to complain to us within twelve months of them becoming aware of a problem. Mr X did not complain to the Ombudsman until September 2025. We look at each complaint individually, and on its merits, considering the circumstances of each case. But we do not exercise discretion to accept a late complaint unless there are good reasons to do so. I have considered whether to exercise our discretion to investigate the complaint, but I have seen no good reasons to do so.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. The Complaint is late and it would have been reasonable for Mr X to have complained sooner.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman