Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s housing applications. This is because parts of the complaint are late, some parts can be addressed through the appeal process and because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Ms X, says the Council provided unsuitable housing in 2019. She alleges her landlord committed fraud and says there was disrepair.

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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 an investigation if we decide:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• it would be reasonable for the person to ask for a council review or appeal.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council. This includes the complaint correspondence. I also considered our Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Ms X made a homelessness application and the Council provided housing in 2019. Ms X says it was unsuitable. It appears Ms X moved to different privately rented accommodation where she lived until recently. Ms X has accused the landlord of fraud and reported disrepair in the property.
6. Ms X made another homelessness application in 2024 which the Council accepted. The Council closed her homelessness application in 2025 because she refused an offer of housing. Ms X has requested a review of that decision which is still in progress.
7. I will not investigate the complaint that the Council provided unsuitable accommodation in 2019 because it is a late complaint. I have not seen any good reason to accept a complaint about something that happened six years ago.
8. I will not investigate the issues that relate to the private accommodation because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. This is because the Council told Ms X how she can report fraud and took action in relation to the disrepair.
9. I will not investigate the Council’s decision to close the recent homelessness application. This is because Ms X’s solicitor has assisted with a review and if the review is unsuccessful, Ms X would have appeal rights to the court.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate this complaint because part of the complaint is late, there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council, and because there are review and appeal rights the complainant can use.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman