🏠 Changes to Your Tenancy

Your tenancy agreement is a contract between you and the council. It shows your name, when you became a tenant, and how much rent you pay. Sometimes, changes need to be made. Here's how:

✍️ Change of Name

If you change your name (for example, if you get married), you need to:

• Tell us in writing
• Fill in a form (you can download it from our website or ask a staff member)
• Send us documents to show your new name

👥 Joint Tenancy

A joint tenancy means two adults share the tenancy. Both people are responsible for:

• Following the tenancy rules
• Paying the rent
• Even if one person moves out

If the tenancy is in your name only, you can ask for your partner to be added.
If you're not married, you must show you've lived together for at least 12 months.

If you're joint tenants and your relationship ends, we can only change the tenancy to one person if:

• You both agree
• Or a court says so

To ask for a joint tenancy, write to us or fill in the form.

🔁 Passing Your Tenancy to Someone Else (Assignment)

If you're a secure tenant, you may be able to give your tenancy to someone else. You must get our written permission first.

We may agree if:

• A court says you must give your tenancy to your partner
• You're swapping homes with another tenant
• You want to give your tenancy to someone who could take it over if you died

We may say no if the home would be too big or too small for them.

What Happens If a Tenant Passes Away(Succession)

If the lead tenant dies, their tenancy may go to:

• Husband, wife, partner, or civil partner if they lived with you when you died

If you don’t have a partner, it may go to a relative who lived with you for at least 12 months before you died.

If it’s a joint tenancy, the other tenant can take it over.
But the law says this can only happen once.
If someone already inherited the tenancy, they can’t pass it on again.
Every succession is dealt with on a case by case basis, if you find yourself in this situation please contact our Housing Allocations team.

📞 Need Help?

If you're a relative of a tenant who has died and need advice, please call:

Housing Allocations
📞 01255 686466