Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about housing allocations. This is because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council did not include his son as part of his household when considering his housing application. Mr X says this prevented him from being able to bid on suitable properties, which caused delays, distress, uncertainty and instability. Mr X would like the Council to include his son in his application and reconsider his eligibility.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), section 34(B)).

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. After Mr X complained to the Ombudsman, the Council confirmed Mr X had been housed with his son. This was the outcome Mr X wanted therefore there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman