Crap Towns / East Hertfordshire / Ombudsman complaints

How often does the ombudsman find against East Hertfordshire council?

In 2025-26 the ombudsman decided 14 complaints and enquiries about East Hertfordshire council, investigated 1 and upheld 1. That's an uphold rate of 100%, against 74% for similar councils. Per 100,000 residents that's 0.6 upheld, against 1.0 for similar councils. It had already put things right in 100% of upheld cases, against 15% for similar councils. Hertfordshire County Council, which runs social care, schools and the roads, had 40 upheld of 46 investigated (an uphold rate of 87%).

**What the ombudsman decided, 2025-26**
Outcome	Complaints and enquiries
Upheld	1
Not upheld	0
Closed after first enquiries	7
Sent back to the council to sort out first	6
Advice given	0
Invalid or incomplete	0
All decided	14

**What people complained about, 2025-26**
Service	Complaints and enquiries received
Planning	6
Bins, environment and public protection	4
Housing	4
Benefits and tax	2
Corporate and other services	1
Highways and transport	1
Adult social care	0
Education and children's services	0
Other	0

**Nearby councils**
Council	Upheld per 100,000 residents, 2025-26
Central Bedfordshire	5.4
Welwyn Hatfield	4.1
Epping Forest	3.6
Stevenage	3.3
Uttlesford	1.1
Broxbourne	1.0
Hertsmere	0.9
East Hertfordshire	0.6
Harlow	0.0
North Hertfordshire	0.0