Special educational needs This fact sheet is aimed mainly at parents who are concerned that their child may have special educational needs that are not being met and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. What is the Ombudsman's role in complaints about special educational needs? The law generally prevents us from investigating complaints where the decision or issue complained ab ...

Enforcement agents (bailiffs) This fact sheet is aimed primarily at anyone who is experiencing problems with a bailiff employed by a council or other enforcing authority and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Enforcement agents are what were more commonly known as bailiffs. I have a complaint against an enforcement agent. Can the Ombudsman help me? In some cases, yes. If your ...

Infant class size appeals This fact sheet is aimed primarily at parents who have appealed for a place in reception, year 1 or year 2, and who may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Please also read our fact sheet on complaints about school admissions. What is an 'infant class size' appeal? The law states that there must not be more than 30 children in an infant class (that is, cl ...

Business rates This fact sheet is aimed primarily at anyone who is experiencing problems with some aspect of their business rates account and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have a problem with my business rates. Can the Ombudsman help me? In some cases, yes. But there are some matters we are not allowed to look at by law: We cannot look at the level of business rates as ...

Enforcement of road charging schemes (such as Transport for London’s Congestion Charge and Low Emission Zones) This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who are unhappy with the way Transport for London (TfL) is dealing with a congestion charge or Low Emission Zone related issue and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. It also applies to some other schemes such as the Durham ...

Derelict properties This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who cannot get the council to take action about nearby derelict properties and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. There is a dangerous and unsightly derelict building nearby and the council has done nothing about it. Can the Ombudsman help me? Yes, in some circumstances. If you believe that the council did somet ...

Noise nuisance This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who are concerned that the council is not taking the right action to deal with the noise nuisance they are experiencing and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Organisations the Ombudsman can look at We hold councils to account for services they pay other organisations, including private companies, to carry out on the ...

Housing benefit claims This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have problems with a claim for housing benefit (or local housing allowance) and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Housing Benefit is being replaced by Universal Credit. The Ombudsman cannot deal with complaints about housing payments made as part of a Universal Credit claim. I have a problem with my hous ...

Homelessness applications This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who are, or may become, homeless and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I am homeless or will become homeless soon and the council is not dealing with my application properly. Can the Ombudsman help me? Yes in some circumstances. We can consider your complaint if you have told a council you are homeless or ...

Complaints about education outside of a school setting This fact sheet is aimed at parents who are experiencing problems with accessing education for a child who is unable to attend their usual school. It is also aimed at parents who choose to educate their children outside of the state education system. I believe my child is unable to attend school and I am not happy with the support provided by ...