Private tenants
Most private tenants have fixed-term tenancies that last for an agreed number of years, giving you stability and security.
Your tenancy agreement sets out your legal rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
You’ll receive a copy of the agreement when you sign up to your tenancy and you should check the rights and responsibilities specific to your tenancy agreement. As it’s a legal document, you should keep it safe for future reference.
Fixed-term tenancies
A fixed-term tenancy lasts for an agreed number of years, usually one, two or three years. At the end of your tenancy, you’ll have the option to agree a new fixed-term tenancy, unless you’ve breached your tenancy agreement, or we need the property.
Periodic tenancies
If a further fixed term isn’t agreed at the end of your tenancy, you’ll automatically move to a periodic tenancy. These are month-to-month contracts retaining the terms of your previous agreement, but without the security of a fixed-term tenancy.
Joint tenancies
A joint tenancy allows more than one person to rent a home. Under a joint tenancy, a single rent is paid for the property and all the named tenants hold the property equally with joint rights and responsibilities. As such, a tenancy breach by one person results in a breach by all the tenants.
Rights and responsibilities
Rights
Although the property is owned by us, it’s your home and you have the right to live in it without interruption from us, as long as you keep to the terms of your tenancy agreement.
Responsibilities
There are also things you agree to as part of your tenancy agreement, such as:
- paying your rent and service charges on time
- treating your neighbours with consideration and respect
- dealing with pests, such as mice or rats.
Repairs
We’re responsible for the structure of your property, communal areas and any fixtures and fittings we supplied. For example, we’ll look after:
- plumbing
- electric heating
- communal areas, like entrances or lifts
- roofs, gutters and drains
- keeping your home secure and weatherproof.
You’re responsible for interior decoration, looking after your garden and maintaining any goods you bring into your home. This means you have to look after things like door handles, locks and blocked sinks.
Ending your tenancy
Your individual tenancy agreement sets out how and when you can end your tenancy. Typically, you’ll have to send us written notice in line with your tenancy’s agreed notice period. You can’t end your tenancy during a fixed-term tenancy unless your agreement contains an agreed break clause.
After you give us notice, we’ll phone you to discuss your notice. We’ll then send you a written reply within three working days confirming the last day of your tenancy, and the date and time of your check-out inventory, which is usually on your last day.