Your rights as a council tenant

The rights you have are different depending on what kind of tenancy you have.

All tenants have:

  • the right to see any of the details you have given to us in connection with your application for a tenancy or a transfer of your tenancy - we might charge you for copies of these details
  • the right to see our policies on housing and rehousing
  • the right to be consulted about any proposals for changes to the way we manage, maintain, improve, demolish, sell or transfer council homes, or changes to do with service or facilities for council tenants
  • depending on when your tenancy started, you might have the right when you die to pass your tenancy on to someone else, like a spouse, partner or family member  

The people who can live with you are those you told us about when you applied for the property.

Before anyone else comes to live with you for more than four weeks you must get our permission. We might refuse to let them stay at the property.

You must not sublet or give away possession of your home or any part of your home.

Introductory tenant rights

Unless you are transferring from a secure tenancy or other certain types of tenancy, you will start your tenancy as an introductory tenant.

Your introductory tenancy will last for one year. If you do not break any of the tenancy conditions during this time you will automatically become a 'secure tenant'. If you break any conditions we will take steps to end your tenancy.

As an introductory tenant you cannot:

  • apply for the right to buy your home
  • vote for a change to a new landlord
  • swap your council house with someone else

You must also ask for our written permission before you:

  • make a structural change or any improvements, other than redecorating the property
  • fit or remove any aid or adaptation to the property

You must tell us if you will be away from the property for more than four weeks, so that we know you haven't abandoned it. 

If your job means that you are often away, or you are away for long periods at a time for another reason, you should tell us.

Secure tenant rights

As a secure tenant you have the right to:

  • take in a lodger but you must ask us first
  • sublet part of your home but you must ask us first
  • the right to swap your home with another council tenant, a housing association tenant or a council tenant from another council - you must apply to swap your council house first
  • in some circumstances, you have the right to buy your home
  • the right to make improvements to your home but you must ask us first