Summary: We cannot investigate the Council’s handling of Mr X’s concerns about a Council tenant removing a door bolt to a shared alleyway. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate We have no remit to investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils.

The complaint

1. In summary, Mr X complains about a tenant of the Council removing a bolt to the door of a shared alleyway.

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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 Mr X.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X’s complaint is about the Council’s management of its social housing and the actions of its tenant.
7. We cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils acting as a social landlord. This restriction applies to the Council’s role in this complaint.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is about the management of social housing by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman