Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about alleged delay in the Council completing a right to buy sale as it is unlikely we will find fault.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council failed to progress his right to buy (RTB) purchase within a reasonable time frame after he had accepted the offer notice. Mr X says this caused him financial loss and significant stress.

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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 not enough evidence of fault, or fault causing a serious injustice, to justify investigating (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, 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.
5. I considered the Government’s document: ‘Right to Buy: Summary Booklet’.

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My assessment

6. In its stage one complaint response to Mr X, the Council set out a chronology of actions it had taken in respect of working towards the completion of the sale.
7. While this did take several months, I do not consider there is evidence from the chronology, or from Mr X’s complaint, of delay by the Council which would warrant our further investigation. The Government’s information on right to buy for homeowners points out that buying a home can be a long process and can take several months.
8. As such, we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is unlikely we will find fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman