Social tenants
Everything you 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 need to continue to 18 months if you’ve breached any of your tenancy’s 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.
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
Request a repair
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Nominated representatives
If necessary, a tenant can choose someone else to make decisions for them about their home and tenancy. This can be a joint tenant living in the same home, or someone else such as a family relative.
Please use our simple online form to add someone as a nominated representative.
By sharing our stories and views, we were able to help shift the perception of young people.
Niomi
national ambassador
Meet Niomi – national ambassador
“My journey really started when I found myself pregnant at 18. After some time living in a hostel, I managed to secure my first tenancy when my son was five months old.
“My mind has always been focused on helping improve the lives of young people, so I did community volunteering placements for various youth programmes.
“As a national ambassador, we were given an opportunity to help create more positive relationships between older and younger residents. By sharing our stories and views, we were able to help shift the perception of young people.
“Coming out the other side, being a national ambassador helped me better understand my purpose and decide exactly what I wanted to do while supporting others.”
Decants: moving in to temporary accommodation
Sometimes because of a serious event or repair we need to move tenants into temporary accommodation while we repair their homes. This is normally because of an event such as a fire, flood, or major unplanned repair. This move is often referred to as a “decant”.
Sometimes a move is just for a short period, sometimes for longer, depending on the work needed to the home.
If you have to move out it’s because your home is unsafe. We’ll need to ensure that it’s safe to live in 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.
Digital skills checker
Try our simple, online game and see how you could improve your digital skills.
Test your knowledge on a range of digital skills, including using email, safe online shopping and searching for jobs online.
You’ll be able to see how you can develop your skills and even request training suited to you.