Making changes to your council tenancy

Tenancy condition changes

If there is a change to your tenancy conditions, we will consult with secure and introductory tenants to tell you what changes we are seeking.

We will ask you your views and then decide whether to go ahead with the change. If any changes are made, we will give you notice of the date the change will come into force.

Change of name on your tenancy

You may wish to change your name on your tenancy, for example, if you have changed your name by deed poll or because you have recently married and taken your partner’s name.

You will need to complete a change of name application form and provide relevant documentation such as a deed poll certificate or marriage or civil partnership certificate.

See change of name application form (WORD)

Change to a joint tenancy

A joint tenancy is when two or more adults (aged 18 or over) are named on the tenancy agreement. Joint tenants have equal rights and responsibilities under the tenancy agreement for the whole of the tenancy.

They are both responsible, together and individually, for keeping to these tenancy conditions and paying amounts due to us. Applying for a joint tenancy is at our discretion.

You may want to share the responsibilities of your tenancy with your spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner (cohabiting partners must have lived together at the property for a minimum of 12 months).

See joint tenancy application form (WORD)

Change to a sole tenancy

When a joint tenant no longer lives at the property as their only or main home and has no intention to return, the tenant’s name can’t be removed from the tenancy and the joint tenancy can’t be given to the tenant who wants to remain in the property.

The joint tenancy has to be ended by one of the joint tenants serving a notice to quit.

We will consider granting a new sole tenancy at the property, or suitable alternative accommodation. However, joint tenants don’t have an automatic right to a new sole tenancy – it is at our discretion.

Please print, complete and submit the form to your neighbourhood housing office:

See notice to quit form – for abandonment by a joint tenant (PDF 97kb)

Transfer your tenancy to a family member

In some circumstances, it is possible to transfer your tenancy to a spouse, partner or family member, this is known as assignment.

You can only transfer your tenancy to a family member with our approval. A tenancy can be assigned by:

• giving away your tenancy to someone who would be entitled to succeed the property on your death
  • transfer to a family member application form (WORD)
• a  court order as part of a divorce or family proceedings

Pass on your tenancy when you die

A partner or adult family member may be able to take over your tenancy if you die, this is known as succession. Your tenancy will automatically transfer to any remaining joint tenant.

If there is no remaining joint tenant, the tenancy can pass to someone who has a legal right under the Housing Act 1985 (as amended) to take it over, as long as the tenancy did not pass to you by succession.

If nobody is entitled to succeed to your tenancy, we will serve a notice to end the tenancy. If you live at the property but don’t succeed to the tenancy, you will have to move out and find your own accommodation.

In certain circumstances we may consider a discretionary tenancy under our lettings policy.

See succession application form (WORD)

Ending your tenancy

Your tenancy can be ended if:

• you give us at least four weeks’ notice in writing
  • notice to quit form (google doc)
• you are evicted by us
• we need to move you, for example, to redevelop the property

If only one of you wants to end the tenancy and the other joint tenant(s) wants to remain in the property, we may agree to:

• give the remaining person a new tenancy at the same property, but this will be dependent on a number of factors
• if we do not agree to give the tenancy to the person remaining, we may seek possession of the property
• not give them a new tenancy, for example, the property could be offered to another couple or family