Social tenants
Find everything you may need to know, from understanding your tenancy to how to buy your home.
Fixed-term tenancies
Learn more about how fixed-term tenancies work
Moving in guide
Prepare for your home move with our helpful guideHow to swap homes
See how you can swap your home by mutual exchangeHow to buy your home
Explore the different options for buying your homeHome aids and adaptations
Useful home adaptations, from handrails to wheelchair accessUnderstanding your tenancy type
Social housing tenants
Most of our social tenants have fixed-term tenancies that last for an agreed number of years. This helps us be flexible and responsive to housing needs.
If you’re a new social housing tenant, you’ll usually be offered a six-year fixed-term tenancy, with a probationary period of up to 18 months. Sometimes we offer shorter fixed-term tenancies, for example when a property is due for regeneration. These tenancies are for not less than two years.
Your tenancy will be reviewed after 12 months and your probationary period will only continue to 18 months if you’ve breached any of your tenancy terms and conditions. After your probationary period, your tenancy will continue for the remainder of the six years, with your rent being reviewed each year.
At the end of your fixed-term tenancy, you’ll usually be offered another five-year fixed-term tenancy – unless your circumstances have changed significantly.
Social tenants: FAQs
Nominated representatives
If necessary, you can choose someone else to make decisions for you when it comes to your home and tenancy. This is called a nominated representative and they can be a joint tenant living in the same home, or someone else such as a family member.
Please use our simple online form to add someone as a nominated representative.
Decants: moving in to temporary accommodation
Sometimes because of a serious event or repair we need to move tenants into temporary accommodation while we fix the homes. This is normally because of something like a fire, flood, or major unplanned repair. This move is often referred to as a “decant”.
Sometimes the move is for a short period and sometimes it's for longer, it all depends on the work needed.
If you do have to move out however, it’s because your home is unsafe and we’ll need to make sure that everything is safe again before you can move back in.
Moving out in these situations can be difficult, but we’ll minimise your disruption and keep you regularly updated throughout.
The managers are amazing. When I need assistance I can contact them. It’s just what you need when you’re on your own.
Read Florence's storyFlorence
LiveSmart resident
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