Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a ‘Right to Buy’ application. This is because we cannot achieve the outcomes requested.

The complaint

1. Miss X and Miss Y complain about the Council's handling of their Right to Buy application, especially the valuation of the property.
2. Miss X and Miss Y seek a redetermination of the valuation and that the Council extends the purchase deadline.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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 we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainants.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. The complainants say the Council's valuation failed to reflect significant defects in the property, including major roof issues. They say two independent valuations obtained through mortgage lenders valued the property substantially lower than the Council's assessment. They say they requested a redetermination of the valuation, but the Council refused their request. They report the Council said their request had not been made within the required three-month timeframe.
7. We will not investigate. This is because we cannot achieve the outcomes requested. The Right to Buy scheme process is legally binding and time sensitive. The Ombudsman has no remit to intervene.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X and Miss Y’s complaint because we cannot achieve the outcomes requested.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman