Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s replacement of fence panels at a Council property. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I will refer to as Mr B, complains that when the Council replaced fence panels at a neighbouring Council-owned property, it used shorter fence panels. Mr B says this affects the privacy of his home.

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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 complaints about the provision or management of social housing by a council acting as a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5A schedule 5, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr B and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

6. We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint because he is complaining about the Council’s management of social housing.

Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman