Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint she was not accepted on to the Council’s housing register. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s application of its policy to justify investigating.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council have not accepted her onto its housing register.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints of injustice caused by ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. I have used the word fault to refer to these. We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)
3. 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))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Miss X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. The Council say Miss X was not accepted onto its housing register because she does not meet the eligibility criteria. Miss X does not live in the Council’s area.
7. The Council must offer housing in line with its policy. I have seen nothing to suggest Miss X has continuously lived in the Council’s area for at least five years or that she meets the exceptions in the Council’s eligibility criteria. There is therefore not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s application of its policy to justify investigating.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint she was not accepted on to the Council’s housing register. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s application of its policy to justify investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman