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Advice for Tenants

Your home - you must use the property as your only or principal home and use it in a reasonable way. This includes ensuring both your home and garden are clean and tidy.  If you will be away from your property for more than four weeks you must inform your Tenancy Management Officer - this way we will know that you have not abandoned your property.
Visitors - your tenancy agreement does not only cover yourself and your household it also includes anyone who visits your property. 
Your Garden - if your home has a garden you must keep it tidy and maintained.  You should not park a vehicle on your garden unless there is a hardstanding and a dropped kerb, you should also seek written permission from Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire County Council before any work to drop the kerb is undertaken.
Pets - all pets should be kept under control and not create a nuisance for neighbours.  All gardens should be kept cleared of animal faeces.
Help and support - If you need support to sutain your tenancy, a referral can be made for both tenancy or floating support.  If you need assistance with budgeting or independant living skills, please contact your Tenaancy Management Officer at the Contact Centre.
Visits to your home - we aim to visit each new tenant within 4 weeks of moving in. At this stage we can identify and act upon any tenancy support requirements. In addition we can also identify any potential breaches of tenancy as advice can be given at this early stage. 
What is a joint tenancy -  a joint tenancy means that two people are equally responsible for ensuring the tenancy conditions are met.  Both tenants have equal rights to stay in the tenancy until the tenancy is ended.
What happens if I have a joint tenancy and my relationship ends - if the relationship breaks down the Council will not take responsibility for who stays in the property.  This is a decision that has to be taken by the tenants, police intervention, or a separation proceedings made by the Court.  You need to keep your Tenancy Management Officer informed of any changes of circumstances.
Can I sub-let  or take in lodgers? - to sublet means that some one pays you rent but lives separately from the rest of your household. You are not allowed to sublet the whole of your home as this would be a serious breach of your tenancy agreement.
If you wish to sublet part of your home you must obtain our written permission first. 
A lodger is someone who pays you rent, eats a meal with you and shares your home. You can take in lodgers but you must tell us. You must not take in a lodger if this will result in unreasonable disturbance to neighbours or the property becomes overcrowded.
Can I lose my home? - Yes, if you dot not abide by the conditions of your Tenancy Agreeement, legal action can be taken which may result in you losing your home.

What happens to my tenancy when I die?

On the death of a tenant, a member of the family may succeed to the tenancy if they meet the criteria.  This is explained in our  PDF icon Succession Policy.   

For further information regarding Rights to Succession please contact your Tenancy Management Officer based at the Contact Centre.

Ending your tenancy

Your Council tenancy does not end automatically when you move out of your home.  Your tenancy is a legal document and can only be ended by you serving the Council with a Notice to Quit.
If you want to end your tenancy with us, you must give us four clear weeks notice (starting on a Monday) by completing a Notice of Termination of Tenancy form. These forms are available at any of the Contact Centres.
 
If you are a joint tenant, either party can terminate the tenacy but this would end the whole tenancy.  The Council does not legally have to allow the other joint tenant to stay in the home.  Please contact your Tenancy Management Officer for further information.

Before you leave, we will inspect your property. We therefore request that you make an appointment for this inspection in the weeks leading up to the date you are leaving. You can make this appointment by contacting the Housing Assistant at your local Contact Centres.  

Before leaving your property you must ensure that: 
You must:
  • pay all rent and charges up to the tenancy end date
  • leave the property, fixtures and fittings in good condition
  • leave the property clean and tidy and remove all possessions and any rubbish from both inside AND outside the property.  You may be charged for the cost of cleaning and clearing the property if you do not do this
  • remove any greenhouses or sheds you have erected in the garden (if applicable).  If you do not you may be charged for the cost of dismantling, removing and disposing of this structure
  • inform the utility companies(gas, water, electric) you are moving and on what date - and that you have taken accurate meter readings for this purpose 
  • advise our Revenues section (Council Tax/Housing Benefit) and the Department of Work and Pensions (if applicable) of your move and of your forwarding address
  • arrange with the Post Office to have your mail redirected
  • ensure your property is vacant with no one left in occupation.  If you do leave anyone in the property we will take action to evict them as they will be living there illegally without our permission
Handing in the Keys

All keys to the property should be handed in to your local Contact Centres on the day the tenancy ends (this will always be a Monday) by 10.00 am failure to hand  the keys in on time will result in your being charged an additional week(s) until the keys are returned.
 
Relatives dealing with a tenants affairs.
In a situation where a tenants passed away or if the tenant is incapable of dealing with their affairs the responsibility falls with the next of kin to formerly bring the council tenancy to an end.  This can be done by completing a Third Party Termination form.  Please contact the Tenancy Management Officer at one of the Authority's Contact Centres for further information.

Abandoned Properties

We realise that sometimes our tenants may leave their propertes without informing us.  Empty properties can attract vandalism or squatters. 

We appreciate that you as neighbours are often the first to know.  If you are aware of a property in your area that has been abandoned please inform the Contact Centre.  All information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Links for further information

Last Updated on Saturday, 12 June 2010 07:25

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