St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (25 017 362)
Category : Other Categories > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 16 Apr 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to advise Ms X of a second caution registered against a property. And about a delay in carrying out property searches. We consider and investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
- Ms X complains failed to inform her of a second charge against a property she inherited. And about delays in carry out property searches.
- She says this delayed the sale and increased her fees and charges.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X inherited a property. She says the Council failed to inform her of a second caution registered against the property.
- In response to my enquiries Ms X has confirmed:
- the second caution was removed
- the Council allowed council tax relief for the empty property
- The Council advised Ms X that it received the request for property searches in mid-June and they were return at the end of August.
- The Council has no stated timeframe for completing property searches. It says it has added resources to it search team to assist with high volumes of requests.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. The second caution has been removed and Ms X was granted council tax relief on the empty property. We consider further investigation of the complaint would not lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman