Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council has failed to ensure building works comply with the Building Regulations. This is because the matter does not cause him significant personal injustice.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Mr X, complains building work near his home does not comply with the Building Regulations. He wants the Council to take the necessary steps to ensure full compliance.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. We do not investigate all the complaints we receive. In deciding whether to investigate we need to consider various tests. These include the alleged injustice to the person complaining. We only investigate the most serious complaints.
6. I understand Mr X is concerned about whether the work does or will ever meet the requirements of the Building Regulations but the issue does not cause him significant personal injustice. There is also no significant public interest to investigating the issue further.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate this complaint. This is because the Council’s actions have not caused Mr X significant personal injustice.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman