Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council failed to carry out emergency repairs at Miss X’s home as this matter is not within our legal remit.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council failed to carry out emergency repairs at her home when she was going through the process of buying the property from the Council. Miss X says she was left without a working toilet for four weeks which was an urgent health and safety issue for her and her child. Miss X says she was put to time and trouble and was caused stress and upset by this.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. 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)

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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. We cannot investigate this complaint because it concerns the Council’s actions as Miss X’s landlord, that is, as per paragraph three, a provider of social housing. Such matters are not within our legal remit.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is not within our legal remit.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman