Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Ms X’s housing. This is because we cannot achieve the outcome Ms X is seeking.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains the Council significantly delayed assessing her priority need on the housing register and has come to the incorrect conclusion regarding her priority award.
2. Ms X wants the Council to award her Band A, help her to be rehoused urgently and pay financial compensation.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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 we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants. (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 the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. The Council decided Ms X was in Band B on its housing register as she was lacking an extra bedroom. Ms X asked the Council to review her banding and carry out a medical priority assessment. Ms X said due to the severity of her relative’s medical needs, she should be awarded Band A.
7. The Council delayed carrying out the review. However when it did conclude the review, it explained is decision clearly and in line with its allocations policy. As this delay did not lead to Ms X having any delay in additional priority awarded, it is not proportionate to recommend a financial remedy, as Ms X has requested. We also cannot recommend Ms X to be banded any higher, as this is a decision for the Council to make, provided it does so in line with its allocations policy. The Council has done this and so I cannot criticise it. As we cannot achieve the outcome Ms X is seeking, we will not investigate this complaint further.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint further because we cannot achieve the outcome she is seeking.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman