How to complain about local council services

If you feel that a council service has not been properly delivered, you can submit an official complaint.

Making a formal complaint

Your local council welcomes feedback on the standard of service it provides. In this way they can learn from mistakes and improve services.

If you have a concern or suggestion about a service, write or speak to a member of staff or the service manager. Contact information for this, and other council services is listed on your local council's website or in the phone book.

Local councils in Northern Ireland

If you are not happy with your reply

A service manager normally sends you a written reply within a certain number of working days from receiving your complaint.

If you are still not happy, you can contact your council's complaints officer. The complaints officer will confirm that they have received your complaint and, after investigation with the department concerned, they will send you a written reply.

Your local council will be committed to responding to a complaint within a set number of days. Local circumstances vary slightly and you should contact your local council for full details.

Taking your complaint further

The Northern Ireland Ombudsman is an organisation that investigates complaints about local councils.

It is independent of both central and local government so that the investigations are impartial. You can complain directly to the Ombudsman at any time, but it usually only considers your complaint after it has been looked at under your local council's complaints procedure.

You can contact the Ombudsman's office on freephone 0800 343424 or 028 9023 3821 for general help and assistance before submitting a complaint.

You can make a formal complaint in writing, by email, by fax and online.