Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s housing service’s handling of matters relating to Ms X’s social housing. This is because it falls outside our jurisdiction and instead falls within the jurisdiction of the Housing Ombudsman Service.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the Council’s housing service’s handling of matters relating to the anti-social behaviour of a neighbouring tenant and her attempts at a mutual exchange which have not yet been successful.

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

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My assessment

6. The restriction highlighted at paragraph 3 applies to Ms X’s complaint. This is because Ms X’s complaint concerns the Council’s management of social housing and so falls outside our jurisdiction and instead falls under the jurisdiction of the Housing Ombudsman.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because it falls outside our jurisdiction and instead falls within the jurisdiction of the Housing Ombudsman Service

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman