Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a leak and related matters. This is because the law prevents us investigating.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council did not deal properly with a leak into his home or with his communications and formal complaint about the matter. The Council owns the freehold of the building where Mr X lives. The flat where Mr X lives is let by the Council on a long lease to Mr X’s landlord.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate complaints about the management of housing let on a long lease by a council that is a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5B, schedule 5, as amended) Here, the Council is a social housing provider.

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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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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. The restriction in paragraph 2 prevents us investigating anything ‘in connection with’ the management of housing let on a long lease. The matters complained of were all ‘in connection with’ such matters, because that was the only basis for the Council’s involvement with these events affecting Mr X’s home.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman