Tenancy Types and Information
Your tenancy agreement is the legal contract that describes your rights and responsibilities (as the tenant) and our rights and responsibilities (as your landlord). It also sets out the rent and service charges you need to pay for your home and describes the services you can expect from us.
Here is some useful information about your tenancy:
If this is your first tenancy with us, you will probably have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy which usually lasts for 12 months and acts like a “trial period”. As an Assured Shorthold tenant, you have fewer rights. For example, you won’t be eligible to apply for a mutual exchange and if you breach any tenancy conditions we can act quickly, and you could lose your tenancy.
Here’s a copy of our Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement – Copy
You will automatically have an Assured Tenancy after a 12-month probationary period if there have been no tenancy problems in your first year. If you abide by your tenancy conditions, the Society will not ask you to leave. In addition, tenants who are moving from another assured tenancy with the Society or other social housing provider will be offered an assured tenancy.
Your Responsibilities as a Tenant
We have put these into your tenancy agreement and we spoke to you about them before you moved in. Here is a reminder of some of the important points:
You have agreed to pay your rent regularly and in advance. If for some reason you cannot pay your rent please come and speak to us as soon as possible. We understand that circumstances can change and we can help you to prevent a debt from building up. Remember that you are in danger of losing your home if you don’t pay your rent and we won’t be able to give you a good reference for another home.
Let us know if something needs repairing and keep your property in the same condition as it was when you started your tenancy. You are responsible for decorating and for replacing minor household items and anything that you have accidentally damaged. We may need access from time to time to inspect fixtures and fittings, and carry out services or repairs and we will always attempt to make a suitable appointment with you.
You must give us access to your home to:
♦ Inspect the condition of your home
♦ Complete an annual gas or other necessary safety inspections, such as annual fire door inspection or 5 yearly electrical inspection
♦ Complete an annual tenancy review
♦ Carry out repairs and or improvements to Your Home or any adjoining homes
♦ Carry out any of Stoke on Trent Housing Society’s obligations under your tenancy agreement or imposed by law
In most circumstances, unless an emergency, we will always give you a minimum of 48 hours notice of our visit. Failure to provide access may result in costs incurred by the Society that you would be liable to pay
You must let us know if your circumstances change and someone comes to live with you. You might take in a lodger or decide to sublet part of your home. We won’t refuse permission unreasonably, but you may find, for example that a benefit entitlement is affected. You must also have the spare space for a lodger and not overcrowd your home.
If you are subletting part of your home, you must request our permission first. Write to us and let us know what you are planning.
You may have a joint tenancy and would like to transfer your half to your tenancy partner. Or you may be requesting a joint tenancy for the first time. All tenancy change requests, including successions, need to be made directly to Stoke on Trent Housing Society.
Subletting or obtaining a social housing tenancy fraudulently is a criminal offence and means that those in need of social housing must wait longer to be housed. We take illegal subletting very seriously. Every social housing home that’s illegally sublet or tenancy that’s obtained dishonestly deprives a person or family in need of an affordable home.
The most common types of fraud are where:
– A tenant is not living in their property as their only or main home.
– A tenant has rented out their property and is not living there.
– Someone tries to take over a tenancy after the tenant’s death when they are not eligible.
– Someone has or is attempting to get a social housing tenancy based on false information.
– An assignment or mutual exchange application is made fraudulently.
The action we take will depend on the type and scale of the fraud committed.
If you suspect that someone is committing tenancy fraud you can contact us by email to info@stokeontrenthousingsociety.org.uk or call 01782 968566.
The action we take will depend on the type and scale of the fraud committed.
As a Housing Association, we are required to meet the Equality Act 2010, which ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to services and their homes. We will:
♦ Do all we can to make sure your home meets your needs and to help you to access our services.
♦ Provide reasonable adjustments and make any necessary minor adaptations to support your independence.
♦ Change how we communicate with you so that you can access our services just as easily as anyone else.
Contact us if you need to discuss or need any help with your tenancy.