Summary: Ms X complains she has incurred costs as the Council has not properly maintained its property next door to Ms X. The Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints about the Council’s management of its housing stock as such matters are outside his legal jurisdiction.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Ms X, complains she has incurred costs as the Council has not properly maintained its property next door to Ms X.

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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 lives next door to a Council owned and tenanted property. Ms X says she has incurred costs installing fencing and rectifying drainage issues. Ms X considers this work has been necessary as the Council has been negligent in maintaining its property. Ms X seeks compensation from the Council.

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Final decision

5. The law says we have no legal remit over a council acting as a social housing provider. This includes how a council maintains its housing stock. As Ms X’s complaint relates to such matters, we cannot investigate.

Investigator’s final decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman