North Northamptonshire Council (25 010 502)
Category : Housing > Council house sales and leaseholders
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 09 Jan 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about how the Council handled her right to buy her home. This is because Miss X could reasonably have used her right to go to Court.
The complaint
- Miss X complains the Council sent a formal offer to sell her home to her, then three months later said it added the value of the solar panels to the offer price. Miss X says she had to increase her mortgage. She says she wants the Council to honour the original price or remove the panels.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone could take the matter to court. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to go to court. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(c), 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 sent Miss X an offer to buy her home, which she accepted. It later contacted her to say it needed to increase the price. It said the original offer did not take account of the solar panels and apologised. Miss X complained and the Council upheld her complaint. The price of the solar panels should have been included within the original offer. It said the law allows amendments in the offer price up until completion.
- Miss X had the right to ask the County Court to determine the issue (Housing Act, section 181). The Court can make a binding order. It would have been reasonable for Miss X to use the court remedy available to her.
- Miss X bought her home in September. Miss X made a binding legal agreement with the Council. The Ombudsman cannot undo that contract.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because she could reasonably have used her right to go to Court.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman