Reading Borough Council (24 002 743)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 03 Jul 2024
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s provision of parking at a housing development by its housing services. We cannot investigate complaints about the management of its estates by a social housing landlord.
The complaint
- Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to provide sufficient on-site parking during a re-development of a council housing estate. He says site traffic and displaced parking onto the highway and verge outside his home has resulted in his car being damaged more than once. He wants the Council to resolve the parking problem at its site and to pay towards the costs of his claims for damage.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We cannot investigate complaints about the provision or management of social housing by a council acting as a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5A schedule 5, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered the information provided by the complainant and the Council’s response.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X says the Council has not provided sufficient parking on a site where it is re-developing council housing. He says the contractors sand other have displaced parking form the site onto the roadside where he lives and parks his car. His car and his wife’s car have been damaged by unknown vehicles and he has had to make insurance claims which may affect his premiums.
- The Council’s housing authority accepted there was some fault in the supervision of parking on the site. However, it does not accept that it is in any way liable for the damage caused by third parties. The Council advised Mr X to complain to the Housing Ombudsman Service if he remains dissatisfied. He says he was told by the Ombudsman that it will not investigate his complaint because he is a private householder.
- Since 2013 we have had no jurisdiction not investigate complaints about the actions of social housing landlords including councils. We have no discretion to investigate these complaints.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s provision of parking at a housing development by its housing services. We cannot investigate complaints about the management of its estates by a social housing landlord.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman