Your tenancy agreement governs the relationship between you and us. It sets out your rights and responsibilities as our tenant, and our rights and responsibilities as your landlord.

Joint tenants have equal rights and responsibilities for the tenancy. Both tenants have the same right to stay in the property. Both are responsible for paying the rent on time. One cannot evict the other without a court order, however, one tenant can end the tenancy by serving notice.

Assured (non-shorthold) tenancy

Most of our tenants hold assured tenancy agreements. As an assured tenant you have the greatest security of tenure. This means that you cannot be evicted from your home unless:

  • you have broken one of the conditions set out in your agreement, and
  • we have followed a legal eviction procedure to get a court order requiring you to leave.

Secure Tenancy (Pre-1988 Tenancy Agreements)

A small number of our tenants hold secure tenancy agreements that were granted before 15 January 1989, when the Housing Act 1988 came into effect.

As a secure tenant, you can only be evicted from your home if:

  • You have breached one or more of the conditions in your tenancy agreement, and
  • We have followed the proper legal procedure and obtained a court order requiring you to leave.

Secure tenants typically benefit from enhanced rights, which may include:

  • The right to take in lodgers or sub-let part of your home (with written permission)
  • The right to carry out improvements to your home (subject to approval)
  • The right to exchange homes with another secure or assured tenant through a mutual exchange scheme
  • The Preserved Right to Buy, depending on when your tenancy began and if it has remained continuous

These tenancies are rare but remain in place for longstanding residents with continuous occupancy since before 1989. If you believe you hold a secure tenancy or are unsure, please contact us for confirmation and advice.

Starter Tenancy

A starter tenancy is a type of probationary assured shorthold tenancy usually offered to new tenants when they move into one of our properties. It typically lasts for 12 months and is designed to help us ensure that the tenancy gets off to a good start.

As a starter tenant, you have fewer rights than those with an assured tenancy. During the starter period, it is easier for us to take legal action to end your tenancy if:

  • You breach the terms of your agreement (for example, by failing to pay rent or causing anti-social behaviour), and
  • We follow the correct legal process and obtain a court order for possession.

If there are no significant problems during the starter period, your tenancy will usually be converted into an assured (non-shorthold) tenancy after 12 months, giving you greater security and rights.

During your starter tenancy, we will:

  • Monitor how your tenancy is progressing
  • Offer support where needed to help you sustain your tenancy
  • Provide clear communication if there are any concerns

If you’re unsure about your tenancy status or have questions about what happens after your starter period ends, please get in touch with us.