Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr B’s complaint because we cannot add to the previous investigation completed by the Council.

The complaint

1. Mr B complains the Council failed to provide suitable housing and access to housing near to his family despite having evidence of his needs, caring responsibilities and human rights protections. He says the adult social team did not contact him to provide support. Mr B says the Council actions caused significant emotional distress, had adverse impact on his recovery and interfered with his right to family life. Mr B says the Council did not have due regard to his rights and dismissed his case and delayed. Mr B says he is not left homeless and wants the Council to reassess his housing needs. Mr B said he wants the Council to place him near his family so he can continue his recovery and caring responsibilities.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, or
• we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants, or
• there is another body better placed to consider this complaint, or
• it would be reasonable for the person to ask for a council review or appeal; or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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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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My assessment

5. Mr B complained to the Council in April 2025 about several issues relating to housing and support provided by the Council. Mr B described himself as a vulnerable adult and said the Council had failed in its duty of care and had failed to provide him with suitable secure accommodation.
6. The Council provided several complaint responses to Mr B about his housing, repairs, rent and adult social care support. In its complaint about rent discrepancies, it confirmed how much the charge for rent was and separate charge for water rates. The Council said the delay in Mr B receiving the housing cost payment from Universal Credit was because Mr B needed to change the office where he was registered. It said it had not issued any eviction notices and would not take tenancy enforcement action as long as the rent arrears reduced. It apologised for issues he had experienced with his front door which needed to be repaired.
7. The Council’s adult social care team confirmed what support it had provided to
   Mr B while he was in the community. After speaking with Mr B the ASC team determined Mr B’s primary concern was housing which was impacted by his personal circumstances.
8. We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint because we cannot add to the previous investigation completed by the Council. The Council logged and responded to several complaints from Mr B addressing the issues he complained about. The evidence available now suggests he was offered housing options but declined some. The Council’s adult social care team provided support to Mr B and liaised with the housing department. The Council also said if Mr B would like it to consider housing matters at stage 2 of its procedures it is willing to provide a further response.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint because we cannot add to the previous investigation by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman