Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about how the Council has responded to Mr X ‘s concerns about residential tower blocks it is responsible for. This is because we have no powers to consider complaints about a council when it is acting as a landlord.

The complaint

1. Mr X has raised safety concerns with the Council about two residential tower blocks his firm has carried out repairs to. The Council is responsible for the tower blocks. Mr X is unhappy with the Council’s responses.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. 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

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because the tower blocks are managed by the Council in its role as a social landlord. The complaint is therefore outside our jurisdiction.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman