We are currently conducting a review of our tenancy agreement to ensure they reflect best practice, meet current legal standards, are easy to understand, and continue to support a fair and transparent housing environment for all tenants.
The review is part of our ongoing commitment to improve housing services and respond to changing needs across our communities. It involves updates to certain terms and conditions to make them clearer and more consistent for you, and for us.
What this means for you:
- You will not see any immediate changes. The review process includes consultation, and any proposed amendments will be shared for feedback before they are finalised.
- Your current rights and responsibilities remain the same throughout the review period.
- We aim to make agreements easier to understand and fair for everyone.
We want every tenant to feel heard and supported. You will be invited to respond to the updated tenancy agreement during a consultation period later this year. This is your chance to share your views on the proposed changes.
About your tenancy agreement
A tenancy agreement is a legal contract between you (the tenant) and your landlord – in this case, the Council. When you became our tenant, you will have received a copy of your Tenancy Agreement, which covers things like:
- Your right to live in the property - It confirms that you can live there as long as your follow the terms.
- What you’re responsible for - This includes paying rent on time, keeping the property clean and safe, and respecting your neighbours.
- What the Council is responsible for - Such as repairs to the structure of the building, heating systems, and ensuring you home is safe and secure.
- Permissions, guests and behaviour - It outlines what’s allowed and what needs permission - like keeping pets, taking in lodgers or making changes to the property.
- How to end your tenancy - It explains how you or the Council can end the agreement, what notices apply and what your must do before your tenancy ends.
Reviewing our tenancy agreement: what’s changing and why
Earlier this year, we carried out a comprehensive review of our Tenancy Agreements. This was an important step to ensure our tenancy terms remain fair, up to date, and aligned both with national legislation and the needs of our tenants.Why we reviewed itThe review was guided by three key goals:
- To reflect recent legislative and regulatory changes - Including updates from the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. Awaab’s Law, and guidance from the Regulator of Social Housing.
- To reflect good practice on tenancy management - Ensuring our policies support safe, respectful communities and effective housing services
- To make the agreement clearer and easier to understand - So tenants can confidently know their rights, responsibilities, and what to expect from the Council as the landlord.
What happens next
We’re now nearing the final stages of drafting the new Tenancy Agreement. In the next few months, we will issue a ‘Preliminary Notice of Variation’ to you. This is a formal letter from us, letting you know that we plan to make changes to your Tenancy Agreement. It’s not a final decision, but a ‘heads-up’ that changes are being proposed.We are legally required to send you this Notice before we can change the terms of your tenancy. It gives you time to:
- Understand what’s being proposed
- Ask questions or raise concerns
- Share your feedback before anything is final
After you receive the Preliminary Notice, you’ll have a set period (usually 28 days) to review the proposed changes and respond. We will consider all tenant feedback received. If we decide to go ahead, we will send a ‘Notice of Variation’, which confirms the final changes and when they will take effect. This process ensures that changes to your tenancy are made fairly and transparently, and that you have a voice in decisions that affect your home.
Updated: 11th September 2025