Being a secure tenant means that you can keep your home for as long as you want, unless there is a legal reason for us to take possession and the court agrees.
We can't take back your home and end your secure tenancy without first getting a Court Order for Possession.
We would do this if you have broken the tenancy conditions you agreed to when you signed the Tenancy Agreement, and we are unable to sort the problem out together.
- Breaking your tenancy agreement
- Changing tenancy conditions
- Taking in lodgers or sub-letting
- Your right to carry out improvements to your home
- Your right to buy your home
Breaking your tenancy agreement
If any of the rules in the tenancy agreement are broken we can take action. Your Housing Management Officer will visit or write to you if you have broken one of the terms. You will normally be given an opportunity to put the situation right.
If you continue to break the terms of your tenancy agreement we will serve you with a Notice of Seeking Possession, this is the first legal step we take to repossess your home.
If we apply to the court for possession of your property we have to prove to the court you have broken the terms and that repossessing your home is reasonable.
Changing tenancy conditions
The terms of your Secure Tenancy Agreement can be changed.
If we intend to change your tenancy conditions, we will send you a Notice of Variation telling you what the changes are and when it will apply, giving you at least 4 weeks during which you can comment on the proposals.
Residents’ groups will also be consulted about major changes to policies and the way we deliver our services.
We will listen to your views before we make any decisions.
Taking in lodgers or sub-letting
With permission from us, you can take in lodgers or sublet part of your home. However, you must not overcrowd your home.
If you are in receipt of benefits, you must inform the Benefits Team immediately. You cannot sub‐let your entire home; if you do, you will lose your secure tenancy.
Your right to carry out improvements to your home
Every secure tenant has the right to improve their home. You need permission from your Housing Management Officer in writing and the work must be carried out to the guidelines given.
Permission will be denied if the work could cause us expense or difficulty letting the home in the future, or is a potential safety risk.
Your right to buy your home
Under the Right to Buy scheme, some tenants have the right to buy their council home.
- if your secure tenancy started before 18 January 2005, you can apply after 2 years
- if your secure tenancy started after 18 January 2005, you can apply after 5 years
Sometimes, time spent with another social landlord can count if it has been continuous. Please see the Right to Buy website for more information:
Also see