Summary of your tenancy agreement
This Page describes some of the responsibilities and rights you have as part of your tenancy.
This document is NOT a copy of your tenancy agreement, and it does not affect your signed agreement in any way.
Please refer to your copy of the signed tenancy agreement for more details.
- You should pay your rent as stated in clause 1.1
- You should pay any arrears you owe from a former tenancy as stated in clause 1.2
- You should not exchange or assign your tenancy to another person unless you have the right to do so, or you have the council’s permission. Please see clause 1.3.
- You should not sublet the whole of your home as stated in clause 1.4
- You should not sublet part of your home without the council’s permission as stated in Clause 1.4A.
- You should make sure all rubbish is disposed of properly as stated in clauses 1.5 and 1.5A
- You should agree to the council taking a photograph of you at the start of your tenancy as stated in Clause 1.6
- You must only use your home as a place for you and your family to live as stated in clause 1.7
- This must be your main or only home, as stated in Clause 1.8
- You must tell the council if you are going to be away from your home for more than six weeks as stated in clause 1.9
- You must behave in a reasonable manner according to clauses 1.10 to 1.18.
- You should not Cause a nuisance, take part in anti-social behaviour or harass other people. You should not take part in violence or threaten other people with violence. You should make sure that anyone living with you or visiting you does not do any of these things.
- You should allow people authorised by the council to come into your home as stated in clause 1.19
- You should keep the inside of your home properly decorated (clause 1.20)
- If your home includes a garden, or if you share one with other tenants, you should maintain your garden according to clauses 1.21, 1.21.1, 1.21.2 and 1.22.
- You must tell the council about repairs that are needed as per clauses 1.23 and 1.24
- You must not take into your home or block anything that might explode or be a fire hazard (such as bottled gas and paraffin.) Please see clause 1.25
- You should keep your home free from rats, mice and other pests (clause 1.26.) If your home becomes infested then you should tell the council’s environmental health department straight away (clause 1.27)
- If your home is in a block, you must not throw anything from your home or from areas you share with your neighbours. You must not allow anyone else to do this (clause 1.28)
- If your home is in a block, you should not allow anyone you do not know into any locked areas that you share with your neighbours. This does not apply to members of the emergency services or to someone that you know has been authorised by the council.
- If you wish to keep a pet in your home, you must get the council’s permission as stated in clause 1.30. If you keep a cat, a dog or any other animal in your home, you must keep it under control. You must not allow it to foul your home, your block or any areas that you share with your neighbours (clause 1.31)
- You must not carry out vehicle repairs within your home or areas shared with your neighbours. You must not carry out vehicle repair for profit (clauses 1.32 to 1.36A)
- At the end of your tenancy you should remove all your property, including any rubbish, and leave your home in a reasonable condition (clause 1.37)
- You should advise the council within seven days if there are changes to the details of people living in your home.
- You should cooperate with other tenants and leaseholders to clean shared parts of the building. This includes shared staircases and landings (clause 1.39)
- You have the right to expect certain repairs to your home. The Council as landlord should carry out these repairs in accordance with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
- The Council must keep the structure and exterior of your home in repair (Including drains, gutters and external pipes.) (clause 2.2)
- The council must keep in repair and in proper working order the pipes and other installations in your home, which provide you with water, gas and electricity supplies. This includes basins, sinks, baths and lavatories. It does not include other appliances that use these supplies, such as electric or gas cookers. These appliances are your responsibility.
- The council must keep in repair and in proper working order the heating system in your home and the system for providing hot water.
- The council will not repair any damage caused by you or by anyone living with you or visiting you. (clauses 2.5.1 and 2.5.2)
- The council will not repair any damage caused by work that you have done even if the Council has agreed that you can do this work. This includes work done by people you are responsible for.
- The Council will not carry out repairs to anything that you have installed in your home, even if the council has agreed that this may be installed.
- You may only make improvements, alterations and additions to your home if you first get written permission from the council. You must get all necessary approvals yourself, including any planning permission and building regulation approval in line with clause 2.6.
- If you do not get the Council’s permission before carrying out an improvement, alteration or addition, the Council may ask you to remove it and to return your home to the way it was. If you do not do this within a reasonable time, then the council may remove it and return your home to the way it was. If this happens, you will be liable for the council’s reasonable costs.
- You may carry out repairs to the structure or outside of your home only if you get written permission from the council. You also need written permission to paint the outside of your home. If you carry out such work, you must meet the costs yourself. If you ask for permission to paint the outside of your home, the Council cannot refuse without a good reason.
- If your weekly rent includes a charge for hot water and heating, then you may be entitled to a refund if the Council fails to provide these services for 48 hours or more. This refund would be paid into your rent account (clause 2.8)
- If you wish to end your tenancy agreement you must give the Council at least four weeks notice in writing. Your tenancy should end on a Monday (clause 2.9).
- The council has the right to end your tenancy agreement if you break the conditions in clause 1.8. This clause outlines how you must use and occupy your home. The Council must give you four weeks notice in writing to end your tenancy agreement.
- The council may change the terms of your tenancy agreement provided that it follows the procedures set out in clauses 2.10.1 to 2.10.3. This does not apply to changes in the rent, which the council may make according to clause 3.1.
- The council must not make any changes to the Agreement that would reduce the security of your tenancy.