Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s policy relating to service charge for leaseholders of its properties. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about the management of housing let on long leases by a housing authority.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about Council officers giving incorrect advice to a Housing sub-committee about service charges for leaseholders. He says the officers breached the officers’ code of conduct and should be disciplined.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate complaints about the management of housing let on a long lease by a council that is a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5B, schedule 5, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council’s response.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X says that two Council Housing officers gave incorrect information to a Housing sub-committee in 2024 regarding the way in which challenges to service charges were dealt with. He says the meeting was misled and should be re-convened and the officers disciplined.
6. The Council disputes his views and says the representation the officers made about the Council’s policies was correct.
7. We cannot investigate complaints about officers acting for council housing landlords in relation to management of leases.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s policy relating to service charge for leaseholders of its properties. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about the management of housing let on long leases by a housing authority.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman