Council tenants

Council Housing - Tenancy Issues

Tenancy Strategy

The Localism Act 2011 places a new duty on local housing authorities to prepare and publish a tenancy strategy (updated January 2013) for their area. The strategy must set out the matters to which Registered Providers (RPs) of social housing are to have regard in formulating their own tenancy policies. These tenancy policies will explain how Registered Providers intend to implement the range of new flexibilities introduced through the recent social housing reforms.

Tenancy Agreements

Your tenancy agreement is a legal contract between you and us. When you were issued with your keys to the property you will have signed and received a copy of the agreement. This agreement states the rights and responsibilities of both parties.

To view the terms and conditions of a secure tenancy, to view the terms and conditions of a non-secure tenancy.

This is an important document setting our your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, and the service you can expect from us as your landlord. It is the legal contract between you and us and as a tenant you must keep to the conditions of the your tenancy set out in the agreement.

You are responsible for the conduct and behaviour of friends, relatives, any other people (including children) and pets living in or visiting your home, communal area or locality. It is important that you refer to your Tenancy Agreement for full details of your rights and responsibilities.

What is a joint tenancy?

A joint tenancy means that two people are equally responsible for ensuring the tenancy conditions are met, this includes the responsibility to pay rent. If one of the joint tenants does not pay the rent, the other tenant can be held responsible for paying the rent and any arrears. Both tenants have the right to live in the property until the tenancy is ended. If your relationship breaks down we cannot decide who stays in the property - you need to either agree between yourselves or it can be decided by a court. You will need keep your Tenancy Management Officer informed of what is happening.

It is not usually possible to remove one name for the tenancy agreement. There are some exceptions, such as a court order, but in most cases if one joint tenant ends the tenancy this ends the tenancy on behalf of all joint tenants. You should seek advice before doing this.

Tenancy Conditions

Your signature on the tenancy agreement means you have agreed to the tenancy conditions – you are responsible for ensuring that you and members of your household including visitors to your home keep to the tenancy conditions.

All named tenants on a tenancy agreement have equal rights and responsibilities for the tenancy. Each tenant is responsible for ensuring that the rent and other charges are paid.

Breach of Tenancy

If a breach of tenancy occurs, either tenant can be held responsible. A breach of tenancy means that a condition of your tenancy has been broken. This can lead to possible court action. The council may apply to the County Court to allow a tenancy to be brought to an end.

Breaches of tenancy include: