Democratic Filter, Complaints & Tenant Panels – the latest news

It is still there in the Localism Bill, but some changes are about to be proposed if all goes to plan.

The Government had a hard time in the House of Lords, only just winning the vote, with members of its own parties voting against the proposal. The government did however agreed to look again at this.

Work is going on behind the scenes to draft a slightly amended proposal during the 3^rd reading relating to direct access to the Ombudsman.

The House of Lords received its final report on 10^th October 2011 and are moving now towards the 3^rd reading.

Who knows how this will go, but suggestions are that a proposal to allow access to the Ombudsman if the Tenant Panel, Councillor or MP is taking some time to resolve the issue, is still a possibility. We should know the outcome of this in the next couple of weeks.

The Localism Bill will receive Royal Accent in late November/early December.

The Government is committed to concluding the matter before we sit down for our Xmas meal.

The Housing Ombudsman Service (HoS) continues to update its good practice on Complaints.

The HoS and will be working with the CLG on a joint short summary of best practice, based on the outcome of the Localism Bill relating to
the operation of the democratic Filter. This is likely to be produced in February 2012.

All complaints made up to 1^st April 2013, will be dealt with by the LA Ombudsman.

From that date, anyone coming out the other side of the Democratic Filter will be referred to the HoS.

The Housing Sector and Tenant Panels need help to translate the new legislation and some principles for operation.  This can only be guidance it is “Localism” after all.  The HoS is developing learning delivery tools to support the sector. Tenant panels will need to register with the Ombudsman and so some criteria will need to be established: Current thinking includes: