Birmingham City Council (19 018 923)
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: Mr X complains the Council did not complete repairs he had requested at his home when he was a Council tenant. The Ombudsman cannot investigate as he has no remit to investigate the actions of the Council as a social housing landlord.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council did not complete repairs he had requested at his home when he was a Council tenant.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I have considered what Mr X said in his complaint and background information the Council has sent to us.
What I found
- Mr X reported repairs that were needed to windows at a property where he was a tenant of the Council. Mr X says the Council failed to complete the repairs. Mr X purchased the property soon after, via the Right to Buy scheme, and the Council told him he was now responsible for the repairs at the property. Mr X is unhappy that the Council told him it would carry out the repairs but then did not.
Assessment
- The Ombudsman has no legal remit to investigate the actions of the Council relating to its management of its social housing. This complaint relates to the Council acting in that role and so we cannot investigate.
Final decision
- My decision is that the Ombudsman cannot investigate as he has not legal remit to investigate the actions of the Council relating to its management of social housing.
Investigator’s final decision on behalf of the Ombudsman
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman