What types of tenancies are available to me?
Contents:
4. Renewing a flexible tenancy
1. Introductory tenancy
If you’ve become a tenant in the last?12 months, you will have an?introductory tenancy. This type of tenancy usually lasts for?12 months?from the day it starts. In some cases, it can be?extended by another 6 months.
After this time, your tenancy will automatically change to a secure or flexible tenancy, unless we’ve started action to end it because the tenancy agreement has been broken.
2. Secure tenancy
Most of our tenants have a?secure tenancy. This means you have strong rights to stay in your home. We won’t ask you to leave unless you?break the rules?in your tenancy agreement.
We can’t make you leave without getting permission from a?county court.
We may ask the court to end your tenancy if:
- You?don’t pay your rent
- You?misuse the property
- You?don’t live in the property as your main home
3. Flexible tenancy
A flexible tenancy is a type of tenancy that lasts for a set amount of time, usually?five years.
Since?April 2013, most people moving into general housing will get a flexible tenancy after their?introductory tenancy?ends. Some people moving into?sheltered housing?might also get a flexible tenancy.
When you first sign your introductory tenancy, we will tell you whether you’ll get a?secure?or?flexible?tenancy afterwards.
4. Renewing a flexible tenancy
We will look at your flexible tenancy?at least 12 months before it ends. We will send you a letter to tell you what we decide.
If your situation hasn’t changed much during the tenancy, we will usually?renew it for another fixed term, unless there are special reasons not to.
We?won’t renew?your tenancy if:
- Your home is?too big?for you or your family
- Your home is?too small?and overcrowded
- Your?income is too high, based on the Devon Home Choice rules
- Your home has?special changes or equipment?that you or your family no longer need
- You?owe rent?or have owed rent for?six out of the last 12 months
- You have?broken the tenancy rules?and we’ve started action to take the property back
- We plan to?knock down, rebuild, or sell?your home in the next five years
5. Demoted tenancy
If a tenant behaves in an anti-social way, we can ask the court to change their tenancy to a?demoted tenancy.
This type of tenancy usually lasts for?one year. During this time, tenants?lose some of the rights?they had under a secure or flexible tenancy.
6. Joint tenancy
A?joint tenancy?is when a tenancy is shared by?more than one person. If you are a joint tenant, it means?everyone is responsible?for following the rules in the tenancy agreement. This includes paying rent and looking after the property.
If?one person ends the tenancy, the?others will also have to leave, unless there are special reasons that allow someone to stay.
7. Non-secure tenancy
If you are living in?temporary housing, you will have a?non-secure tenancy.
This means you?don’t have as many rights?as someone with a secure tenancy. For example, you?can’t buy the property?you’re living in.
If you want to know more, please contact our?Housing Needs Team.