The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about liability for council tax. This is because the complaint is late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion to investigate it now.
The complaint
Miss X complains about liability for Council tax. She says she thinks her ex-partner should pay.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The Council told Miss X she was liable for council tax in March 2024. Miss X thought the Council would pursue her ex-partner for the debt and only realised it was pursuing her in August 2025.
The letter the Council sent to Miss X in March 2024 made it clear that both Miss X and her ex-partner were liable for the debt and so it would pursue them both.
Final decision
We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is late and there is no good reason why she could not have come to us sooner.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman