Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (17 016 072)
Category : Housing > Council house improvement
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 08 Mar 2018
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about disabled facilities adaptations to the complainant’s house for her daughter. This is because the complaint should be considered by the Housing Ombudsman, and is out of our jurisdiction
The complaint
- The complainant, who I refer to here as Miss Q, says that:
- The adaptations made for her daughter, who is disabled, have not been properly completed, and are not suitable for her needs; and
- There are additional needed adaptations that have not been made.
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 complaints about the provision or management of social housing by a council acting as a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5A schedule 5, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered the information provided by Miss Q and by the Council. I also discussed the complaint with Miss Q.
What I found
- Miss Q asked for assessment of her daughter’s needs at her new home by an Occupational Therapist (OT) acting for the county council.
- The OT made recommendations which were passed to the borough council to implement.
- Miss Q says that some of the work still remains uncompleted, and some of the adaptations are not suited to her daughter’s needs.
- We are unable to consider the complaint, as it is for the housing Ombudsman to consider, and is out of our jurisdiction.
Final decision
- I cannot investigate the complaint, as it is for the Housing Ombudsman to consider
Investigator’s final decision on behalf of the Ombudsman
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman