Rights and responsibilities
As your landlord, we accept that we have important obligations to our tenants.
In turn, you - as our tenant - have to play your part in making your tenancy secure
Responsibilities set out in your tenancy agreement:
- make sure your new home meets the let-able standard
- keep your home structurally sound and in good repair
- provide local management by well-trained staff
- ensure your neighbourhood is safe, clean and tidy
- help you to become and remain a secure tenant
- only take legal action if you do not keep to your Tenancy Agreement.
- pay your rent and, if applicable, your service charge on time
- keep your home and surroundings in good condition
- keep the inside of your home in good decorative order
- never use the loft for storage or any other purpose
- behave as a reasonable neighbour
If you wish to keep a pet you MUST have written permission from your Neighbourhood Management Officer prior to taking on responsibility for one and you will be expected to abide by our pet policy. Failure to do so may result in the animal(s) being removed and a re-charge. If you have any queries, please contact your Housing Officer.
If you do not keep to your responsibilities as a tenant we will write to you to tell you that we are starting the process of taking possession. We will give you 28 days to put right any breach of tenancy.
To avoid this happening it is important that you contact your Income Management Officer or Neighbourhood Management Officer who may be able to make an arrangement with you to resolve the problem.
If you are a secure tenant you have all the rights listed on this page.
If you are an Introductory Tenant, then you do not enjoy all these rights.
As a secure tenant you can:
- live in your home for the rest of your life as long as you follow the terms of your tenancy agreement
- apply for right to buy - buy your home at a discount after a qualifying period
- pass on your home depending on certain conditions
- take in lodgers and sub-let part of your home with your Neighbourhood Management Officer's written consent. However, this could affect any benefits you receive.
- have your home repaired and the right to repair where we have not completed repair works within the legal time frame
- improve your home, subject to terms and conditions and only with our written consent.
- be compensated for certain improvements you have made if you move home in certain circumstances
- have the 'right to manage'
- exchange your property for another if we give our written consent
- be consulted on any housing management matters which may affect you. Read the papers which will be discussed by the housing committee.
- receive information about how we provide and deliver our services to tenants
What repairs are you responsible for?
A detailed breakdown is contained in your Tenancy Agreement
You must:
- use the property and fixtures and fittings in a reasonable way
- not use the loft for storage or any other purpose
- maintain a good standard of decoration throughout the property
- repair and replace any damage to the property caused by you, your household or visitors to the property
- carry out any repairs and replacements identified as your responsibility to our satisfaction and within a reasonable timeframe specified by us
We advise that you insure your household contents