Paragraph 6 Housing Act 1996I1

Paragraph 10A of Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1996 (housing complaints: collaborative working with Local Commissioners) is amended as follows.

In the heading above that paragraph, for “Local Commissioners” substitute “other appropriate persons”.

In sub-paragraph (1), for the words from “a Local Commissioner” to the end substitute “an appropriate person, the housing ombudsman may, subject to sub-paragraph (2), conduct an investigation under this Act jointly with that person and any other appropriate person the housing ombudsman considers has jurisdiction.”

Omit sub-paragraph (1A).

In sub-paragraph (3), for the words from “a Local Commissioner” to the end substitute “an appropriate person relates partly to a matter within the jurisdiction of the housing ombudsman, the housing ombudsman may conduct an investigation jointly with that person and any other appropriate person investigating the complaint.”

In sub-paragraph (4), for the words from “investigation jointly with” to the end substitute “investigation jointly with one or more appropriate persons, the requirements of paragraph 7 may be satisfied by a report made jointly with those persons.”

For sub-paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6)

For the purposes of this paragraph—

(a)

“appropriate person” means any of the following—

(i)

a Local Commissioner;

(ii)

the new homes ombudsman;

(iii)

an individual who investigates complaints under a redress scheme;

(b)

“redress scheme” means—

(i)

a redress scheme within the meaning of section 100(4) of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (leasehold and estate management redress schemes);

(ii)

a landlord redress scheme within the meaning of section 64(2) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025;

(c)

a matter is within the jurisdiction of an individual who investigates complaints under a redress scheme if it is a matter which could be the subject of an investigation under that scheme.”