Crap Towns / Brighton and Hove / Ombudsman complaints

How often does the ombudsman find against Brighton and Hove council?

In 2025-26 the ombudsman decided 149 complaints and enquiries about Brighton and Hove council, investigated 31 and upheld 23. That's an uphold rate of 74%, against 85% for similar councils. Per 100,000 residents that's 8.1 upheld, against 5.6 for similar councils. It had already put things right in 22% of upheld cases, against 13% for similar councils. Told to put things right, it did in 100% of 18 cases, 13 on time.

**What the ombudsman decided, 2025-26**
Outcome	Complaints and enquiries
Upheld	23
Not upheld	8
Closed after first enquiries	83
Sent back to the council to sort out first	30
Advice given	2
Invalid or incomplete	3
All decided	149

**What people complained about, 2025-26**
Service	Complaints and enquiries received
Education and children's services	37
Housing	33
Corporate and other services	19
Highways and transport	19
Benefits and tax	18
Adult social care	16
Bins, environment and public protection	14
Planning	3
Other	0

**Nearby councils**
Council	Upheld per 100,000 residents, 2025-26
Brighton and Hove	8.1
Lewes	2.9
Adur	1.5
Mid Sussex	0.6
Horsham	0.0