West Northamptonshire Council (21 000 319)

Statement Upheld Building control 02-Dec-2021

Summary: Mr C complained the Council failed to enforce building regulations after his neighbour moved an oil tank next to his property. We find the Council was at fault for its communication with Mr C. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address Mr C's injustice.

London Borough of Barnet (20 004 838)

Statement Not upheld Building control 13-Oct-2021

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council's failure to ensure her neighbour completed building works. We found no fault, because the Council has no power to require the completion of building work.

Allerdale Borough Council (20 009 818)

Statement Upheld Building control 07-Oct-2021

Summary: Mr B says the Council gave him conflicting information about work he needed to undertake to comply with the building regulations, failed to properly inspect his property, interfered with his private proceedings against the builder, wrongly refused to prosecute the builder, failed to respond to his queries and harassed him and his wife. There is no fault in how the Council handled this case with the exception of how it explained its developing position to Mr B and how it responded to his queries. An apology and training for officers is satisfactory remedy.

London Borough of Sutton (20 013 827)

Statement Not upheld Building control 12-Sep-2021

Summary: Mr C complained about the way the Council dealt with his application to regularise building works which he said led to an unnecessary application fee of £300. We found no evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Croydon (20 003 058)

Statement Not upheld Building control 22-Jul-2021

Summary: There is no fault with the Council's decision to place a condition on a building control approval or with the time taken to decide the applications. The Council has also investigated the complaints made by Mr X against his neighbour. There is no evidence of fault in its investigation of complaints about a brick chimney. A complex neighbour dispute means the Council cannot resolve the situation as Mr X wants after he altered a shared chimney. The neighbours metal flue was installed by an approved installer, who has confirmed it was compliant, so there is no fault in the Council's decision not to investigate further.

London Borough of Haringey (20 009 150)

Statement Not upheld Building control 06-Jul-2021

Summary: Mr D complains on behalf of Mr B about the Council's decision not to accept Mr B's sound test report. We do not find fault with the Council.

North Hertfordshire District Council (20 007 500)

Statement Not upheld Building control 17-May-2021

Summary: Mrs E complained that the Council had deleted building control records in respect of a development her family had built, without notification and she was unable to obtain a completion certificate for the property. We have not found fault with the actions of the Council.

Shropshire Council (20 003 936)

Statement Not upheld Building control 04-May-2021

Summary: Mrs D complained the Council failed to take action against a developer for damage to her drainage system and contraventions of building regulations. Mrs D says the developer caused damage to her private drainage system which will cost £25,000 to rectify and her septic tank now needs regular emptying and she has spent £4,000 on legal fees. We have found no evidence of fault by the Council.

Milton Keynes Council (19 018 291)

Statement Not upheld Building control 24-Mar-2021

Summary: Ms X says the Council did not properly inspect building works at a neighbouring property before it issued a completion certificate. I have stopped investigating this complaint and do not uphold Ms X's complaint. The outcome Ms X wants can only be provided by a court and cannot be achieved through an investigation by the Ombudsman.

London Borough of Camden (20 005 246)

Statement Upheld Building control 15-Mar-2021

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to use its building control powers to protect her amenity. Ms X also complained about the Council's refusal to investigate her complaint. There was no evidence of fault in the way the Council made its building control decisions, but there was fault in the way it handled her complaint. The Council has agreed to remedy the fault I have found.