Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the frequency of inspections of his temporary accommodation. There is not enough evidence of fault and injustice to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council rigidly applied monthly housing inspection rules and will not support him by reducing the frequency of the inspections. Mr X says the ongoing stress from the frequent inspections have affected his recovery from a serious health condition and caused distress.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints of injustice caused by ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. I have used the word fault to refer to these. We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)
3. 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 to justify investigating; or
• any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained.
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

(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 Mr X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X complained to the Council about monthly inspections being carried out in his temporary accommodation. He asked the Council to reduce the frequency of the inspections to every three to six months. The Council considered Mr X’s complaint through its two stage complaints procedure. It explained that monthly inspections were a legal requirement in its contract with the accommodation provider. It therefore could not reduce the frequency of the inspections.
7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. The Council’s complaint responses show it considered Mr X’s requests for the frequency of the inspections to be reduced and explained why it could not agree to the request. The Council also said other adults in the household could have dealt with the inspections rather than Mr X. So, there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation of Mr X’s complaint. Even if there was fault, it is unlikely the inspections are sufficiently onerous to cause significant enough injustice to Mr X to justify an investigation of his complaint. Other members of the household can deal with them.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint against the Council because there is not enough evidence of fault and injustice to justify an investigation of the complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman