Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council handled his housing application. This is because further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about how the Council completed his housing application. He says this resulted in him being homeless. Mr X says this impacted on his mental health.

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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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome (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.

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My assessment

5. Mr X complains the Council did not use a private room when they carried out his housing assessment, and it did not make relevant checks or note key information. He says that as a result the Council made an incorrect assessment.
6. The Council agreed with Mr X it should have used a private room. It made all officers aware to prevent it happening again. It took action to collect relevant information and make referrals. It reassessed Mr X’s application to award him the highest priority under their allocations scheme. Mr X moved into supported housing. While I acknowledge the distress Mr X experienced further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman