Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in relation to Mr X’s former landlord. This is because this is a late complaint and there are no good reasons for us to investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council failed to provide him with help taking action against his private landlord when he was evicted from his property.
2. Mr X says the Council’s actions have caused him distress and meant he has been unable to pursue his landlord for compensation.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. Mr X was evicted from his private rented property in May 2020. He contacted the Council for help in August 2020 but the Council was unable to take action at the time.
8. Mr X complained to the Council about what happened in November 2021 and complained to the Ombudsman in March 2022. Therefore this is a late complaint.
9. We have the power to disregard this restriction where there are good reasons for doing so. However I cannot see any reason why Mr X could not have complained to us sooner if he was unhappy with the actions of the Council. Therefore we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is a late complaint and there are no good reasons for us to investigate it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman