Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about the condition of a Council owned apartment block next to her house. The Ombudsman has no legal remit to investigate complaints about the Council acting in its function as a social housing provider.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Ms X, complains a Council owned apartment block next to her home is in a dilapidated condition.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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

3. I have considered what Ms X said in her complaint.

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What I found

4. Ms X complains about a Council owned apartment block next to her home which Ms X says is in a dilapidated condition. Ms X says the Council is abrogating its responsibility to maintain its housing stock in an acceptable condition.

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Final decision

5. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint as the law does not allow us to investigate the Council’s actions as a social housing provider, including how it maintains its housing stock.

Investigator’s final decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman