Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with Ms X’s homelessness applications and the suitability of the accommodation provided to her. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to consider it now.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about how the Council dealt with her homelessness applications and that the interim and temporary accommodation provided to her was unsuitable. Ms X says the Council’s actions caused significant distress to her and affected her mental health.

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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 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.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Ms X complains about how the Council dealt with her homelessness applications and the interim and temporary accommodation it provided to her. Ms X has said the events happened more than 12 months ago.
7. This complaint is outside our jurisdiction as it is late. Ms X was clearly aware of her complaint more than 12 months ago. I am mindful Ms X may be vulnerable, but she said she approached her local MPs for assistance and a local advice agency at the time of events. So, Ms X could have sought assistance in making as complaint to us. I therefore consider Ms X could have made a complaint to us before now.
8. Ms X has said the Council recently decided she was entitled to a severe mental impairment discount for a Council Tax bill when she lived in its area. But this does not change the fact Ms X was aware of her complaint about how the Council was dealing with her homelessness application and the suitability of her accommodation at the time. So, there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to consider the complaint now.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint as it is outside our jurisdiction and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to consider it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman