The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to take sufficient action in a neighbour dispute involving social housing tenants. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about the management of social housing tenancies.
The complaint
Mrs X complained about the Council’s failure to take sufficient action against her neighbours whom she has bene complaining about to her social housing landlord for the past two years. She says she has suffered nuisance, abuse and criminal damage to her property. The Council has offered some compensation for admitted fault but this is insufficient.
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.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mrs X sats her neighbour has caused problems with her behaviour and has breached her tenancy conditions over the past two years. She has involved the housing management staff and the police on occasions when her property was damaged.
The Council accepted some failure in the way it has dealt with its tenants but she says this does not reflect the amount of distress she has suffered.
Since 203 we have had no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about social housing tenants and the actions of their landlords. the Housing Ombudsman service is the body which investigates such matters and the Council has confirmed that Mrs X has lodged a complaint with that body.
Final decision
We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to take sufficient action in a neighbour dispute involving social housing tenants. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about the management of social housing tenancies.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman