Breckland District Council (23 016 499)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 05-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delay in the Council opening its energy company obligation (ECO4) scheme for applications. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault. In addition, the alleged fault has not caused any significant injustice.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 006 105)

Statement Upheld Private housing 01-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to take action when his landlord tried to illegally evict him. We found the Council followed the correct enforcement procedures and was not at fault in the support it offered Mr X. However, we found the Council was responsible for delays when it did not progress the enforcement case. This caused avoidable frustration and distress which the Council agreed to remedy.

London Borough of Ealing (23 004 065)

Statement Upheld Private housing 28-Feb-2024

Summary: there was fault in the way the Council responded to Miss X’s request for its private sector housing enforcement team to investigate disrepair in her rented flat. Miss X suffered some distress and frustration. The Council has agreed to pay Miss X a financial remedy and make a service improvement.

Birmingham City Council (23 003 061)

Statement Upheld Private housing 19-Feb-2024

Summary: Ms B complained about the Council’s actions and involvement when she rented her house to a homeless family arranged by the Council. She said the Council went back on the agreement and undertakings given when she rented the property. She considered the Council’s actions misled her as to its responsibilities to the family. She said that as a result she was not able to return to the property. She said she suffered considerable distress and disruption. There was fault by the Council which caused injustice to Ms B. The Council will apologise, make a payment to Ms B and undertake service improvements.

Tendring District Council (23 000 506)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 16-Feb-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to take action in respect of disrepair at a privately rented property causing distress and affecting her ability to care for her disabled children. The information provided shows the Council took appropriate action to ensure the landlord completed the repairs and so we find no fault.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (23 008 845)

Statement Upheld Private housing 12-Feb-2024

Summary: Miss X complains the Council failed to properly respond to her complaints about disrepair at a flat she rents. We found there were some communication issues and delays in responding to her. We found no fault in how the Council reached decisions about what action it should take. We recommended a written apology for the issues we identified.

Shropshire Council (23 012 798)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 09-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Mr X’s income in relation to grant assisted energy improvement schemes. We consider further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome. And we cannot achieve the outcome the complainant is seeking.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (22 017 870)

Statement Not upheld Private housing 06-Feb-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s actions in response to a report of disrepair at one of his rental properties, and to his complaint about this. We have not found fault with the Council’s actions.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (22 001 690)

Statement Upheld Private housing 05-Feb-2024

Summary: Miss X complains about the Council’s handling of her concerns about disrepair in her privately rented property from December 2021 to May 2023, when she moved out. The Council was at fault for not taking formal enforcement action against the landlord when it identified category 1 hazards in the property, which caused injustice. The Council’s determination the landlord’s eviction attempt was not retaliatory was unclear but did not cause Miss X significant injustice. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Miss X. It will also share this decision statement with relevant staff to reinforce the recent training it has already completed.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (22 012 555)

Statement Upheld Private housing 05-Feb-2024

Summary: Ms X complains the Council has failed to properly investigate and enforce against disrepair and noise nuisances inside her home. She also complains about how the Council has communicated with her. We have found the Council at fault for not conducting a Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) inspection at the earliest opportunity. We have made recommendations to remedy the injustice we believe this caused Ms X. We have not found the Council at fault for how it investigated Ms X’s noise nuisance concerns, or for how it communicated with Ms X.