Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 016 191)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 21-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council issuing an improvement notice to a private landlord for outstanding repairs. It was reasonable for Mr X to appeal to the First Tier (Property Chamber) Tribunal against the notice if he wanted to challenge it.

North Lincolnshire Council (23 000 168)

Statement Upheld Private housing 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We found no fault by the Council on Ms C’s complaint of it failing to ensure home improvement works were done and affordable. There were some delays in responding to correspondence and contacting the contractor. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.

Medway Council (23 009 512)

Statement Upheld Private housing 18-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s lack of action and communication when he reported his landlord failed to address disrepair, mould and damp issues at his privately rented property. We found the Council at fault for letting the case drift, not properly considering Mr X’s concerns and failing to record or explain its decisions to Mr X at the time. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to remedy the injustice caused.

Rossendale Borough Council (23 012 367)

Statement Upheld Private housing 15-Mar-2024

Summary: Ms D says the Council delayed serving an Improvement Notice relating to hazards at her private rental home. We found evidence of fault by the Council and have upheld the complaint and completed the investigation because the Council agrees to pay redress.

Rushmoor Borough Council (22 017 756)

Statement Upheld Private housing 12-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to take proper action following his reports of health hazards at his privately rented property. The Council failed to tell Mr X of its decision. The Council will apologise and act to prevent reoccurrence.

London Borough of Enfield (23 013 300)

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

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s investigation of disrepair in private rented accommodation. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Islington (23 010 714)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 07-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an alleged failure by the Council to resolve disrepair issues in private housing. This is because evidence shows consistent and frequent engagement by the Council to ensure landlord compliance with the legal standards for housing conditions. We did find fault due to a delay by the Council in carrying out an initial inspection, but there is insufficient evidence this caused the complainant to suffer a significant enough injustice to warrant our involvement.

London Borough of Enfield (23 016 624)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Private housing 06-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about a homelessness decision in 2022 or about the way the Council handled her reports of disrepair in her private rented property in late 2022. This is because both complaints are late. There is no evidence that Ms X could not have complained sooner and no good reason to investigate now.

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.