Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (England)
A free, independent ombudsman for complaints about councils and adult social care providers in England. It can look at most council services, and at all adult social care complaints, including care arranged and paid for privately without the council being involved, such as support in your home or living in a care home. On council tax it can look at how the council dealt with you, for example recovery action while you kept to an agreed plan, or how bailiffs acting for the council behaved. You complain online, by phone or by post.
Good to know
It is free to use. Complain to the council or care provider first: it cannot look into your complaint before that happens. You can also go to it if you have complained and had no response within a reasonable time, which it says should in most cases be up to 16 weeks. It cannot normally look into a complaint if more than 12 months have passed since you first knew about the problem. On council tax it cannot look at your council tax band or at anything you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. You can complain on someone else's behalf if you have their permission, or if you have a legal right to act for them. Calls from withheld numbers are not accepted. Even if you speak to an advisor, it will usually ask you to complete the online form.
In the emergency guides: I'm behind on my council tax or rates → · I'm being sent home from hospital, or someone I care for is →
- Phone
- 0300 061 0614
- Website
- https://www.lgo.org.uk/how-to-complain
- Hours
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am to 1pm; Wednesday, 1pm to 4pm
- Coverage
- England
- Languages
- English
- Last checked
- October 10, 2026
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