Crap Towns / Barking and Dagenham / Ombudsman complaints

How often does the ombudsman find against Barking and Dagenham council?

In 2025-26 the ombudsman decided 147 complaints and enquiries about Barking and Dagenham council, investigated 22 and upheld 20. That's an uphold rate of 91%, against 88% for similar councils. Per 100,000 residents that's 8.6 upheld, against 10.2 for similar councils. It had already put things right in 25% of upheld cases, against 14% for similar councils. Told to put things right, it did in 100% of 13 cases, 7 on time.

**What the ombudsman decided, 2025-26**
Outcome	Complaints and enquiries
Upheld	20
Not upheld	2
Closed after first enquiries	49
Sent back to the council to sort out first	64
Advice given	6
Invalid or incomplete	6
All decided	147

**What people complained about, 2025-26**
Service	Complaints and enquiries received
Housing	50
Highways and transport	44
Education and children's services	38
Adult social care	14
Benefits and tax	14
Bins, environment and public protection	14
Corporate and other services	5
Other	1
Planning	0

**Nearby councils**
Council	Upheld per 100,000 residents, 2025-26
Waltham Forest	16.1
Redbridge	14.0
Newham	8.8
Thurrock	8.8
Barking and Dagenham	8.6
Havering	8.0
Greenwich	5.3
Epping Forest	3.6
Bexley	2.3