Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to correctly inspect Ms X’s neighbour’s electrical wiring. We have not seen enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains the Council has failed to correctly inspect the wiring at her neighbour’s property and advise her of the outcome.
2. Ms X wants the Council to disconnect the wiring until it has carried out a thorough inspection of the property with a licensed electrician.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. From the information I have seen, I am satisfied the Council properly investigated Ms X’s concerns before deciding it had no grounds to take any action against her neighbour.
7. A building control officer visited the neighbour’s property to view the external wiring. The officer noted the neighbour had security lights and cameras but although there was loose cabling, it was not installed. Therefore, there was not enforcement action to take. I understand Ms X may disagree, but the officer was entitled to use their professional judgement in this regard.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because we have not seen sufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s actions.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman