Summary: Mr X complains about the actions of the Council’s Building Control department. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is a more appropriate body to investigate this matter.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the actions of the Council’s Building Control department.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as the Housing Ombudsman. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34A, as amended)
3. We have the power to start or discontinue an investigation into a complaint within our jurisdiction. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we think the issues could reasonably be, or have been, raised within a court of law. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 24A(6) and 34B(8), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I have considered the comments of the complainant and the Council’s responses to the complaint. The complainant had had an opportunity to comment on the draft decision.

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What I found

5. Mr X is a tenant of a Social landlord. He took legal action against the landlord to undertake repairs and the landlord agreed in January 2020 to carry out those repairs.
6. Mr X says that he does not believe that the landlord is properly carrying out those repairs in accordance with building regulations. He questions whether or not Building Inspectors visited his house to check the work.
7. Any question of whether or not the landlord is complying with a court agreement to properly carry out the work is now a matter for the courts and not the Council’s Building Control department. If Mr X is unhappy with the repairs he can also pursue a complaint with the Housing Ombudsman.

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Final decision

8. I do not intend to investigate this complaint because there is a more appropriate body to determine this matter.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman