How to Complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman looks at complaints about councils and adult social care in England, once the council or care provider has had the chance to put things right. It is free. Write your complaint to the council or care provider first, and we print it and post it for you by Royal Mail.
Not complained to the council yet? Send your complaint by Royal Mail Tracked 24, from £8.99, so you can prove the date it arrived.
From £2.49 including printing and postage
- No printer or Post Office trip
- See the finished letter before you pay
- Order by 2.30pm for same-day posting
Quick Answer
- Complain first to
- The organisation
- Wait for a reply
- Up to 16 weeks
- Time limit
- 12 months
- Cost
- Free
- Phone
- 0300 061 0614
The 12 months run from when you first knew about the problem.
Where to Send It
Complain to the council or care provider first, using its complaints procedure. If it does not sort it out, complain to the Ombudsman online, or by post using its postal complaint form.
The council or care provider
Your complaint to the organisation, which comes first.
The address on its lettersor its complaints pageSay what went wrong and what you want it to do, and keep a copy.
Write your complaint letterLocal Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Posting its postal complaint form.
Local Government and Social Care OmbudsmanPO Box 4771CoventryCV4 0EHBy post, use its postal complaint form and send only the last letter you got from the organisation. It scans what you send and destroys the paper copies unless you ask for them back. Its online form is the quickest way.
Checked against the Ombudsman's website on 19 October 2026.
Why Send It With PostRight
Proof It Arrived
Choose Tracked 24 and you can see when your letter was delivered, with a photo on delivery. Useful when a deadline or reply time counts from the day it arrives.
No Printer, Envelope or Stamp
Type your letter or upload a PDF on any device. We print it, put it in the envelope and post it.
Posted Today
Order by 2.30pm on a working day and we post it the same day by Royal Mail.
How It Works
- 1Complain to the councilWrite to the council or care provider, say what went wrong and how you want it put right, and keep a copy.
- 2We print it and post itOrder by 2.30pm on a working day and we post it the same day by Royal Mail. A tracked service shows when it arrived, which helps you count the reply time.
- 3Go to the OmbudsmanIf you are still unhappy, complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman within 12 months of first knowing about the problem.
Complain to the Organisation First
The first step is to complain to the council or care provider. If it has not replied within a reasonable time, you can go to the Ombudsman. In most cases, the Ombudsman thinks that should be up to 16 weeks.
Time Limit
The Ombudsman usually cannot look at a complaint if more than 12 months have passed since you first knew about the problem.
What It Covers
It looks at most council services, including those a council pays private companies to provide, and all adult social care, including care you arrange and pay for yourself. It cannot look at academies, what happens inside schools, matters that have been to a court or tribunal, or issues that affect most people in an area, such as setting council tax.
Other Ombudsman Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, PO Box 4771, Coventry, CV4 0EH.
Send your complaint to the council today.
Write or upload your letter, choose your service at checkout, and we print it and post it by Royal Mail.
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