Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council owned garden next door is over grown and causing damage to her property. This is because the law does not allow the Ombudsman to investigate how the Council manages its social housing.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Mrs X, complains the Council owned garden next door is overgrown and is causing damage to her property.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate complaints about the provision or management of social housing by a council acting as a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5A schedule 5, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered what Mrs X said in her complaint.

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What I found

4. Mrs X complains the Council owned garden next door is overgrown and is causing damage to her property. Mrs X asks the Council to repair her broken fence and to remove the overgrowing ivy.

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Final decision

5. My decision is that the Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint. This is because the law does not allow him to investigate complaints about the Council’s management of its social housing.

Investigator’s final decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman