Private housing

London Borough of Croydon (19 005 474)

Statement Upheld Private housing 23-Dec-2019

Summary: Ms C complains about the way the Council dealt with her as the landlord of a property about hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Ms C says she suffered unnecessary stress, costs and time and trouble in pursuing the matter. The Ombudsman has found fault by the Council but considers the agreed actions of an apology, £100 and service improvements provide a suitable remedy in addition to the actions the Council had already taken.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (19 003 287)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 12-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council's Housing and Environmental Health Department but decided to withdraw his complaint.

Portsmouth City Council (19 002 450)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 03-Dec-2019

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation of this complaint. Most of the events happened more than 12 months before Mrs X complained to the Ombudsman. There would also be practical difficulties in carrying out a robust and fair investigation of more recent events without investigating what happened up to ten years ago.

Derbyshire County Council (18 015 862)

Statement Upheld Private housing 28-Nov-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about unsatisfactory works carried out at his property under the Council's Healthy Homes programme. He also complains the Council has discriminated against him, as well as bullied and harassed him. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for the poor standard of work completed and for not responding to Mr X's complaint about bullying, harassment and discrimination in a timely manner. We have made recommendations.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (18 015 191)

Statement Upheld Private housing 19-Nov-2019

Summary: Ms T complains that there was fault in the way the Council responded to her concerns about disrepair in her privately rented house. The Ombudsman is satisfied the Council acted appropriately by liaising with the landlord to get repairs completed. The Council was at fault in that it delayed significantly in responding to Ms T's complaint. But this did not alter the outcome and the Council has apologised so the Ombudsman will not pursue this issue further.

London Borough of Hackney (18 000 394)

Statement Upheld Private housing 07-Nov-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council handled his reports of disrepair and infestation in his private rented flat, and also about the way it handled housing benefit payments. The Council was at fault for not responding to Mr X's complaint. It was not at fault for the way it handled the disrepair and infestation, nor for the way it handled the housing benefit claim.

South Lakeland District Council (19 000 156)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 29-Oct-2019

Summary: Mrs Z complained on behalf of Ms X that the Council refused to let Ms X carry out building work to her own property, incorrectly carried out a tendering process for the works and was then disorganised in how it subsequently billed her for the costs it incurred. Mrs Z says this has left Ms X with debt she cannot afford. The Council was not at fault.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (19 001 855)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 18-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X is a private landlord. He complained the Council misled him when it offered to pay his tenant's (Ms Y's) rent arrears. He said this has caused him huge financial loss and the Council should pay Ms Y's outstanding debt. There is no evidence the Council is liable for the debt. There is no fault with the Council's decision not to pay Mr X.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (19 000 778)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 09-Oct-2019

Summary: Miss C complains about the Council's decision not to prosecute her landlord for illegal eviction and the way it conducted its investigation. She also complains about the Council response to protect her property. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (19 001 126)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 03-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr C says the owner of the house next-door carried out building works that caused dampness in his house which made family members ill. He says the Council is at fault for a failure to accept this and for failing to take enforcement action having said it would. The Council was not at fault. The Council made a professional judgment that the damp was caused by condensation. It never said it would take enforcement action against the neighbour and could not do so as it does not accept he is responsible.