Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) in England

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Courtesy of HOS

The Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) is a non-departmental public body of the UK Government's housing department. This means that the HOS is, as follows:

• independent of social housing landlords (e.g., housing associations, local authorities and managing agents);
• impartial in how it investigates and makes decisions regarding complaints; and 
• free service for residents (e.g., tenants, leaseholders, shared owners and others with a recognised right to occupy a residential property) 

When raising a complaint to the HOS, you must first raise the issue(s) with your landlord and follow their 2-stage complaints procedure to put things right. This is because the HOS will only consider a complaint that has been through the landlord's complaints procedure. 

Once complaints are considered, the roles of the HOS are to: 

• investigate disputes between social housing residents and landlords – i.e., registered members (either through mandatory or voluntary) of the HOS Scheme. You can find verified registered members on https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/landlords/; 
• make final decisions where they can require landlords to, amongst others, put things right, pay compensation or improve their service handling where non-compliance or maladministration is found; and 
• enforce the statutory Complaints Handling Code for social landlords, which came into force on 01st April 2024. 

Apart from investigating ongoing disputes, the HOS may also consider complaints if any of the following apply to you: 

• you applied for a property with a landlord that is a member of the HOS Scheme (Note: not through Local Authorities homelessness or housing application); 
• you have applied to succeed a tenancy, or you are the successor to a tenancy following the tenant's death (e.g., statutory succession rules in the Housing Act 1985 (ss87-90)/1988 ( s17) or succession clause in the tenancy): 
• you are seeking to take over a tenancy or mutual exchange, or have already done so; 
• you have matrimonial home rights – i.e., set out in s30 of the Family Law Act 1996; 
• you hold a court order or power of attorney (e.g. special power of attorney and lasting power of attorney) relating to someone in a landlord-and-tenant relationship (Note: additional evidence may be required if capacity to act is in question); and 
• you have signed authority to act on behalf of a resident (Note: refer to HOS Complaint Checklist – My Version and Based on Publicly HOS Guidance) 

Furthermore, the HOS also provides advice (e.g., guidance, information and support) in addition to investigating complaints about landlords. However, you must first raise issue(s) with landlords and follow their 2-stage complaints procedure. 

The HOS Complaint Checklist – My Version and Based on Publicly HOS Guidance, is not exhaustive but will help you assess your eligibility where further information, amongst others, will be required, as follows: 

• complaint reference number issued by your landlord; 
• copy of tenancy agreement; 
• copy of original complaint; 
• stage 1 response (if applicable); and
• stage 2 response (if applicable)

Thus, if any of the situations in the HOS Complaint Checklist – My Version and Based on Publicly HOS Guidance, apply to you, it is advisable to answer the HOS Questionnaires - Summary and Additions, in advance. 

Answering the HOS Questionnaires - Summary and Additions beforehand will ensure that you will recall key details, clarify goals and provide clear information before completing the actual HOS online complaint form on 

https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/online-complaint-form/

HOS Complaint Checklist (1-2)

HOS Complaint Checklist (2-2)

HOS Questionnaires (1-2)

HOS Questionnaires (2-2)

COMPLAINT FORM SUBMISSION

Once you have completed filling out the online complaint form (17 pages) and selected “yes” to receive a PDF copy, the HOS will email it to you immediately - provided you entered a correct email address. 

If you are unable to complete the form because you do not have the relevant supporting evidence to upload, you can save your answers for up to 14 days. Thus, HOS will send you an email with a link to return and complete the form later. 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT 

The HOS will conduct an initial check to confirm whether the issues you have raised fall within its scope of work. This will be passed on to their assessment team, which will allocate an officer. 

If your complaint is something the HOS can investigate, they will then decide the most appropriate approach to take with you and your landlord. The HOS aims to complete investigations within 12 weeks to 4 months (for high-risk cases) of the date the complaint is accepted for investigation. 

If you disagree with the HOS's final decision, you must request a review within 3 weeks of the determination being made. 

DECISIONS ARCHIVE

The HOS publishes outcomes 3 months after the final decision where resident identities are anonymised whilst landlords' names are published. Furthermore, the HOS releases new decisions every two weeks to uphold its commitment to openness and transparency. 

The above information reflects my understanding of the Housing Ombudsman Service. It is provided for general information only and should not be taken as legal advice. If you believe that any part requires clarification or correction, please feel free to contact me. Hence, it should not be taken as legal advice.

DAYANARA MESMEIZE'S 48TH GREAT GATSBY THEME BIRTHDAY PARTY

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

In the 1920's, women dressed-up according to the type of events and the time of the day. The most significant of all the dresses was the naturally drop waist slip-on dresses worn by the Gangster and Flapper Girls, with hem lengths never going above-the-knee. It was either smartened-up with bright or neutral fabric materials and always accentuated in glittery sequins and/or jive frills. Famously in those days, loose dresses exemplified a sophisticated beauty and femininity despite its unconstrained designs when worn. 

Gentlemen and ladies alike, may I present to you the impersonation of the Roaring 20's style on Miss Dayanara Mesmeize's birthday party. It was the grandiose thankful celebration of her 48th years of existence on Earth with the theme that took us back to the era of consumerism and modern life. Without further ado, her invited and confirmed guests glamorised the venue at Bournbrook And Selly Oak Social Club with THE GREAT GASTBY side-splitting features. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the evening approached the guests were walking graciously on the quarter-turn stair of the building, only to be stopped by the Lady in fuchsia pink dress. She asked them to stand in front of the ameliorated notice board printed on canvas for a souvenir photo shoot. After that, a fresh door awaited them leading to the main venue where they could hear the clinking of champagne glasses from the bar on the right and the tête-à-tête of the guests. Their eyes were illuminated by the Christmassy lights; beautiful palm trees and interlaced festive yellow cloths. Such was the spruceness which fully surrounded the 10 laid out big round tables covered in white cloths and encircled by wrapped chairs for her designated guests.

 

 

(Photo Courtesy of Dayanara Mesmeize's Facebook Account)

(Photo Courtesy of Dayanara Mesmeize's Facebook Account)

There were group pictures with the celebrant, taken by the Lady in fuchsia pink dress, in the lower main floor of the venue. Most of the guests many costume impersonations were statuesquely stunning and dazzling. Everyone was impressed when they looked at someone and in particular, each round table had classy stars who with dignity depicted and carried out the Gatsby Woman's characteristics. It was only interrupted when her agreeably graceful hostess, Miss Alexandra Marie Diaz, asked the guests to cease what they were doing in order to watch a welcome slideshow created by Miss Tiffany Jones. It was a sequence of digitally compiled memorable images of the celebrant which featured her golden charisma as Miss Dayanara Mesmeize and the pureness of her core self as the essential Neil Sumalangcay.

Miss Tiffany Jones

Photo Courtesy of Tiffany Jones' Facebook Account

(The Hostess, Miss Alexandra Marie Diaz)

All of the guests were in the wonderment paradise and more so, when Dayanara appeared on stage in her glamorous deep plunge halterneck gold evening gown with a gradient faux fur stole. She didn't just impress us with her beautiful Gatsby presence as she also serenaded us with the tune, “When We Were Young”. After her vocal performance and compassionate speech, a dear friend of hers (Teofilo Fernandez, Jr.) initiated and sang gaily the traditional “Happy Birthday To You” song. 

The celebrant was in rhapsodic state after the crowd's joint voices and applause. Her presence was then called off the stage and she headed off (in high heels) to the center of the room. Where a pair of arranged cakes awaited for her utmost whisper, “Make A Wish”, and the blowing out of 2 types of candles. I have to say that the phallus like candle made her react ecstatically and not just the impish ladies. Am I right my dear women of the crowd especially the present October celebrants?  

(The October Celebrants)

The celebrant's heart brimming in self-effacing and unselfish demeanour wasn't just all about holding her own grandiose party. It has always been an occasion with a purpose in which she worked hard to gather in one place the special people, with the same virtues and different idiosyncrasies, she encountered in life. Benevolently speaking, her birthday party's main purpose for 9 years to date has been a blessing to the Asilo De Molo Home For The Aged and to her indigent neighbourhood in Iloilo, Philippines. 

It was almost 21:00 when our tummies were calling and rumbling for the appetising buffet style feast. The scrumptious food choices were prepared and served warmly by the family of Benedict Yap Torres' VIP Catering that certainly replenished the spirit and vigour of the guests. 

(The VIP Catering Benedict Yap Torres and Family)

The night's excitement of the Great Gatsby birthday celebration was resumed by a few intermission numbers on and off the stage... 

The spotless and playful lip sync panoplies of the drag queen, Ebony B Krugger, bestirred us all. She performed on stage with superb lip portrayal of the posthumous greatest hits album, “I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston”, by the late American recording artist, Whitney Houston. Wait a minute, there was also a sudden twist when she opened her cape and started frisking off stage in the tune of “Queen of the Night”. I thought that would be the concluding part of her performance but it was only the starter. In addition to this, there was a submissive scene in which she “smashed” playfully one of the Q.E. Doctors. 

There was the harmonising singing performance of the duo sisters, Millicent Jane Erika and Julia Rogers, who sang in their own smoky singsong voices. The boobtube mermaid cut gown of Millicent Jane Erika made her regal that night and while Julia Roberts' glittery sequinned dress defined her sexiness. The sisters' dresses were coordinated in gold colours and their silky locks scintillated the crowd.

We were also grooved by the presence of the Lady Wednesbury, Baga Chipz Mbe, during her honeyed and silvery singing performances on stage. She moved our feet and body to music boomingly and most of us dauntlessly showed-off on the dance floor the frill movements of our dresses. 

The Lady Wednesbury, Baga Chipz Mbe (Left)

Photo Courtesy of Venus Petra Mountney's Facebook Accout

The grandiose physical transformation of Miss Dayanara Mesmeize for 3 years to date were metamorphosed gorgeously under the hands of her chic make-up artist, Miss KC Cueto, and seductive hairstylist, Miss Yurie Mylyn Sy. The ostentatious alteration of the venue with the sound/light system effects was assisted wholeheartedly by her loving partner, Mark, with the unreserved cooperation from DJ Arnold Magno, Mr. Efren Abrina and Mrs. Lyn Abrina. More importantly, the impish cake which made Dayanara smile zestfuly on her 48th birthday party last Saturday was baked by a chef, Roni Smith.

(The Chic Make-Up Artist, Miss KC Cueto)

(The Seductive Hairstylist, Miss Yurie Mylyn Sy)

(Miss Dayanara Mesmeize's Loving Partner, Mark)

The evening of the Great Gatsby was colourfully festive when the selected guests for The Best Great Gatsby Dress were all called up to gather on stage. These were the women who strongly portrayed the trimmed features of the 1920's Gangster and Flapper Girls' outfits. However, there was only one who stood out from the rest and The Best Great Gatsby Dress recipient who received a cash prize of £100.00 was The Lady in Champagne Pink Feather Fascinator... 

The Best Great Gatsby Dress, Molly Malone

Photo Courtesy of Molly Malone's Facebook Account

That was a tough crux unanimously voted by the judges. Per contra, the evening was toughened more when the erotically gratifying beefcake stripper, Fabio, thrilled most women with his raunchy movements. How would we ever forget him on and off the stage when he thrust erotically in particular with his “johnson”; that gave us a water-logged response. The meaty turbulence from Fabio consummated when he splashed a creamy aqueous solution into the obstreperous crowd. Excuse my profanity!

The ultimate segment of the party was enlivened more by a list of 1920's Great Gatsby dance music. All I could say is, no one seemed dead on their feet as the jovial guests who were on the centre of the floor had been dancing vigorously until the wee hours of the next morning.  

Modestly speaking, when you have been humble, pleasant and genuine to people you must believe strongly in yourself that you will reap what you sow at the end of the day. Comparatively speaking, this is how Miss Dayanara Mesmeize has been living her life to the fullest and ever since she went through a successful triple heart bypass. I am sure that all of those present had a wonderful time and owe a debt of gratitude to the warm-hearted Miss Dayanara Mesmeize.

THE BENEFITS OF WRITING (BLOGGING)

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Social media marketing websites all over the world are growing fast, albeit covertly due to the internet. They are an opportunity for people whose interest is writing articles etc. that are based on their understanding and perception of various topics of interest. In general, it is a way of finding out the Do’s and Dont’s of media market writing.

I am writing in my own way and blog publishing is an outlet for me to sharpen my writing skills. I read an article on the internet about blogging and how it works technically. I signed-up for a free membership to a blog publishing website and have been a member for years. The article stated, that a blog must be of a certain age and contains at least 20 published articles before it is submitted to the social media marketing websites. When approved, it is one of the online jobs that can be done at home which generates money.

It is a good idea that the people behind these free websites opened the opportunity for all interested writers in the aim to further hone writing skills.