The Parliamentary Ombudsman (PO) is a free and independent service in the United Kingdom that investigates complaints about government organisations, including local authorities, the NHS, central government departments, and other public bodies. PO’s primary purpose is to investigate any complaints about maladministration or injustice caused by government bodies or their employees. Any individual or organisation can make a complaint to the PO, who then investigates the complaint on their behalf. The PO has the power to recommend compensation, service improvements and changes in the law, and their decisions are binding on the organisation they investigate. The PO also provides guidance and advice to help organisations improve their service and prevent similar complaints in the future. In the context of UK housing, the PO’s role is to investigate complaints about the standards of services provided by local authorities, such as housing benefit and homelessness support, and to hold them to account when they fail to provide an adequate service.