Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (24 016 911)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council not acting in line with its contract with her because it is reasonable for her to take court action in relation to the contract. Further, we could not achieve the outcome Ms X wants.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (24 017 461)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 06-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in connection with a private sector tenancy and the landlord’s request for compensation from the Council. This is because it does not meet the tests set out in our Assessment Code. We are unlikely to find fault with the Council.

Leeds City Council (24 017 685)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 03-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about the Council allegedly failing to properly cancel improvement notices it issued against Mr X, a landlord. There is not a good reason for the delay in Mr X bringing the matter to us.

Manchester City Council (24 014 407)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 27-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of disrepair issues at Ms X’s privately rented property. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council sufficient to warrant an investigation.

Eastbourne Borough Council (23 019 196)

Statement Upheld Private housing 26-Feb-2025

Summary: Ms X complained that the Council failed to take effective action against her former landlord for disrepair at her rented home. We found the Council to have acted with fault because it failed to provide information to Ms X, investigate some areas of disrepair and acknowledge her initial complaint. This caused distress and uncertainty to Ms X. To remedy this injustice, the Council has agreed to apologise and make a modest symbolic payment to Ms X. We did not find fault with the Council’s overall assessment of disrepair and lack of formal enforcement action.

London Borough of Enfield (24 016 466)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 25-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s delays in handing back a leased property to a landlord under a private lease agreement. This is because it does not meet the tests set out in our Assessment Code. It is reasonable to expect the landlord to seek a remedy in the courts.

North East Lincolnshire Council (24 009 361)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 25-Feb-2025

Summary: Ms X complained about the way works were carried out on her property under a grant provided by the Council. The Ombudsman does not find the Council to be at fault.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (24 012 232)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 24-Feb-2025

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation of this complaint, about the Council’s response to reports of disrepair in a privately rented property. This is because the complainant has started legal action against the Council on the same matters, which means it is now outside our jurisdiction.

Sheffield City Council (24 016 256)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 19-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s investigation of alleged mould/vapour/odours in the basement of a housing association property. This is because it does not meet the tests set out in our Assessment Code. We are unlikely to find fault in the Council’s response.

London Borough of Ealing (24 015 423)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 17-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a dispute between a private landlord and their tenants. The claimed injustice does not arise from any council failure towards the complainant.