Your tenancy
Your tenancy agreement sets out your responsibilities as a customer and our responsibilities as a landlord.
The agreement sets out your rights under the law and the action we may take if any of the tenancy rules are broken.
> View your tenancy agreement online
What different types of tenancy are there?
Secure tenancies
Most of our customers are secure tenants, which means that they are protected under the Housing Act 1985.
This means that as long as this is your only and main home, we cannot make you leave without a court order.
> Read more about your rights as a secure tenant
Introductory tenancies
If this is your first tenancy with us you will probably have an introductory tenancy. This will last for twelve months, after which you will automatically become a secure tenant.
With an introductory tenancy, you have the same rights as a secure tenant, but with the following exceptions:
- You do not have the right to buy your home.
- You are not allowed to join the tenants' transfer list for rehousing.
- You do not have the right to compensation if you improve your home. However, you are allowed to decorate your home.
- You do not have the right to exchange your home with another customer.
If you wish to move out, please read the information below on ending your tenancy
Improving your home and your neighbourhood
We want our estates and homes to be nice places where people want to live.
You can help make your estate a nicer place to live by:
- letting us know if things go wrong or need to be done
- making sure that you put your rubbish out in the right place and that it is secure
- letting us know if someone has dumped rubbish
- reporting any anti-social behaviour
- letting us know your views, such as by filling in a feedback form or questionnaire
- joining tenant or resident's associations
Empty homes
Run down empty houses can really spoil how an estate looks and a home that stands empty can cause problems. If it's not secure, it can attract vandals and burglars.
We aim to tackle this problem by maximising the number of homes available to our customers. We do this by:
- inspecting homes before a tenant leaves so that we know what repairs will need doing
- investigating any reports of abandoned homes within 24 hours
- cleaning and clearing the home within two days
- making sure empty homes are kept safe and secure
- checking empty homes at least once a week and putting right any problems
- repair all homes to our 'lettable standard'
Estate inspections and walkabouts
Estate inspections involve tenants and residents joining housing office staff on quarterly walkabouts.
By helping to inspect estates, you get the chance to improve the services we provide. It's a great opportunity to look at the estate and report any issues. It also give tenants and residents a chance to check problems are being dealt with and standards are being met, as well as helping to identify ways in which we can improve our service and the area you live in.
> Read more about estate walkabouts
Are pets allowed?
You can keep domestic pets such as dogs, cats, caged birds, fish or small mammals in your home. They must be well cared for and kept under proper control.
You must get written permission from us before keeping any other animal. If your home has a shared entrance you must not keep cats or dogs (except for registered guide dogs or registered hearing dogs).
Concierge service
The Concierge Service provides all our customers who live in high-rise homes with a 24-hour-a-day security and reception service.
The concierge staff may also report emergency repairs for you.
Your estate officer will let you know if your home benefits from a concierge service.
Shared areas
If you live in a block of flats with other tenants there will be areas and services of the property that are used by several people. Sometimes people living in houses or bungalows share facilities with other people.
Although you have a responsibility to keep these areas clean and tidy, we (the landlord) are responsible for maintaining them. Some areas or services will be your responsibility to repair and maintain while others will fall to your landlord.
Communal & grassed areas
To help maintain the overall appearance of your neighbourhood, the council is responsible for regularly mowing communal grassed areas and keeping communal hedges and shrub beds neat and tidy. Please let your estate officer know if there are any problems.
Rubbish
You should not dump rubbish, or abandon any property, including vehicles, on the estate or near your home. This includes leaving rubbish outside your home or in nearby walkways.
As well as being unhygienic and causing a nuisance to your neighbours, rubbish which has been left standing can attract vermin.
If you or members of your household are found to be dumping rubbish or litter, you can be fined £50 or more or prosecuted through the courts.
Please assist us by creating a pleasant environment where you live.
Vandalism and graffiti
We need to know about any vandalism and graffiti in your area so we can investigate and have it repaired or removed.
The council aims to remove any offensive graffiti within one working day of being told about it and we'll try to recover the cost from the culprit.
You can report vandalism or graffiti to the council's Community Safety Team on 0191 424 7931 or on the Graffiti hotline 0191 427 2000. Alternatively, you can report it to your estate officer or estate warden.
Dog wardens
The council employs dog wardens to patrol streets and public places, such as parks, to provide an effective control service in the borough for stray dogs and dog fouling.
The dog wardens offer advice to dog walkers, take part in local and national initiatives and give scoop style bags to encourage responsible dog ownership.
The Dog Warden Service can be contacted on 0191 424 7906 or by fax on 0191 424 7930.
Motor vehicle repairs
You must not carry out repairs to motor vehicles near to where you live. This also applies to motor vehicle repairs carried out near a garage if you rent one. If you do repair your own car you must make sure this is not a nuisance to others. Examples of nuisance can include:
- Noise from car radios and stereos
- Poisonous fumes from paint spraying or exhausts
- Revving the engine or using noisy machinery or tools, and
- Leaving spilt oil or car parts on estates.
Noise
Noise must be kept to a reasonable volume at all times. This is one of the most common causes of neighbour disputes. So, please be a good neighbour and keep the volume down on TVs, radios, stereos and musical instruments.
Lifts
You and your family and visitors should not use the lifts for anything other than the purpose for which they are intended. Many elderly and vulnerable people rely on the lifts and the main reason for them breaking down is vandalism.
Restricted areas
Certain areas on the estate are out of bounds for very good reasons. You and your family and visitors should not enter any area that is marked as restricted. These include:
- Lift rooms
- Water tank rooms
- The roof
- Roof spaces
- Drying areas (other than for hanging washing)
Ending your tenancy
If you wish to move out, you must give us at least 28 days notice in writing. If you do not end your tenancy correctly, you may be charged extra rent.
You must tell us at the same time if you normally live in the house with your husband, wife or partner and if so, their agreement is also required.
In all cases, we will ask you to complete a termination notice with relevant information, including your future address. We will then provide you with details of the actions which you should take and which we will take.
The termination date for your tenancy will normally be 28 calendar days, from the Sunday following receipt of your written notice but in certain circumstances we may make the termination date less than the 28 days normally required.
How else can my tenancy end?
There are other ways in which a tenancy can be ended, for example, if you buy your home from us, if your home is included in a major works programme or if you are evicted.
