Council Housing

Change of tenancy

This covers transfer of tenancies, requests for joint tenancy, succession to tenancy.

Your tenancy agreement is the document you sign when you agree to become the tenant of your home.

It is a legal contract between you and us and records information such as your name, the date you became our tenant and the rent. It also lists the other conditions you must keep to as a tenant as well as what you can expect from us as your landlord.

There are a number of ways you can apply to have your tenancy agreement changed.

Joint tenancy

You may want to share the responsibilities of your tenancy with someone who lives with you. In this case, you should apply to your Local Housing Office for a joint tenancy.

Transferring your tenancy

If you are leaving to live somewhere else, you can apply to transfer your tenancy to your partner or a member of your family who has lived with you for at least a year. In this case, you should apply to your Local Housing Office to transfer your tenancy.

Succession to tenancy

If you die, your partner or any adult permanently living in your home can take over your tenancy. This is what we call a 'succession to tenancy'. In this case, you can apply to your Local Housing Office.

Staff in the housing office will be able to give you more advice about this.

Condition of tenancy notes

4.3 When you die, your tenancy may pass to your partner (whether he or she is a joint tenant of your home or not) or a relative who has lived with you continuously for the 12 months before your death. In both cases, the property must be their main home at the time of your death. Passing on the tenancy in these circumstances is called 'succession'. A tenancy can only be passed on once. If you have succeeded to a tenancy (for example, because the previous tenant died, or because you were a joint tenant and have become the sole tenant), your partner and relatives will not have the right to succession.

4.4 In certain circumstances, you may also have the right to assign your tenancy. This means you might be allowed to transfer your tenancy rights to a qualifying member of your household, as long as we agree before you leave the property. Please contact your local housing office for more information.

4.5 If your tenancy passes to a relative or your partner when you die, and the property is larger than they need or has a specific use such as a sheltered housing scheme for elderly people, we may ask them to move to another suitable property. We will do all we can to find them alternative accommodation. However, if they are not willing to move and it is reasonable in the circumstances, we may apply for a court order to get possession of the property.

Contact

Barking and Dagenham Direct:

Tel: 020 8215 3002

Fax: 020 8227 5184

Textphone: 020 8227 5755

Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk|

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm.