Got a question about your tenancy?
Your tenancy
Your Tenancy Agreement is a legal contract between you and us. Tenancy agreements are designed to make sure that you are aware of your rights and also your responsibilities as a tenant, alongside what our responsibilities are as your landlord, and what services you can expect from us.
We can help you understand what to expect from your tenancy with us. From signing the legal documents, moving in, leaving your home or transferring to a new property – we’re here to support you.
We have a number of different tenancy types depending on your circumstances, and this will determine how your rent is calculated and when it’s reviewed.
Your tenancy agreement will tell you what type of tenancy you have. It’s likely to be one of the following:
This is the main type of tenancy used for new tenants. This contract is initially for a year and, providing there are no significant breaches of tenancy, we’ll convert this to a full assured tenancy. Your rent will be set at the start of the tenancy and reviewed at the end of the year.
This is the most common type of tenancy we provide. The rent for your home will be set at the start of your tenancy and will be reviewed once a year. The date of your rent review is set out in your tenancy agreement, with details of how your rent will increase. We must adhere to your tenancy agreement and the rules set by the Government, which state that rent will increase by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus one per cent.
For secure tenancies, your rent is set by the Valuation Office Agency and lasts for two years. Sometimes we choose not to apply the full rental increase in the first year. Instead, we might phase in the increase over a two-year period. We must follow the same government rules as we do for assured tenancy reviews (as explained above).
Understanding your tenancy agreement
Your tenancy agreement is a legal contract between you and us. It’s designed to make sure we meet our responsibilities as a landlord, while you take care of your home, pay your rent on time and be a considerate neighbour.
Your agreement provides details of your rights and responsibilities, and the services you should expect from us. It also covers:
- rent and service charges;
- repairs and maintenance;
- nuisance, antisocial behaviour and breaches of tenancy;
- how to end or request changes to your tenancy agreement.
You’ll have signed and been given a copy of your tenancy agreement before you moved into your home. Please keep it in a safe place.
For more information on your tenancy agreement, check out our Guide to Your Tenancy.