East Riding of Yorkshire Council (202402816)

Background

1. The landlord organises several tenant involvement panels. These aim to involve tenants in the operations and strategic direction of its housing programme. The resident complained the panels were not transparent and did not follow their terms of reference. He said the panels should be reviewing both documents and services, but in practice, they had only editorially reviewed documents. He felt there was not clear communication guidance in place and the landlord’s staff had unfair influence over the panels. 

What the complaint is about

2. The complaint is about the landlord’s handling of the resident’s involvement with its tenant panels.

Our decision (determination)

3. After considering the evidence, we have found the complaint is outside of our jurisdiction. As a result, we have not investigated it.

Reasons 

4. We are not free to investigate all complaints referred to us. What we can and cannot consider is set out in the Housing Ombudsman Scheme (the Scheme). In order for us to be able to investigate, the complaint must relate to the landlord’s actions or omissions which have affected the resident in respect of their application for, or occupation of, property. Further, we may not consider complaints which, in the Ombudsman’s opinion are about matters which relate to the processes and decisions concerning a landlord’s processes and decisions concerning governance structures.
5. The resident’s complaint does not concern a specific housing issue that directly affects their occupation or application for property. Instead, it relates to broader concerns about the landlord’s governance structures, engagement strategy and internal decision-making processes, rather than a direct housing service. As such, we have no jurisdiction to investigate this.