Changing my tenancy

When you change your name, for any reason, please let us know. If you’ve got married we’ll need to see a copy of your marriage certificate and if you change your name by deed poll, we’ll need to see the paperwork.

We’ll then make the changes to your tenancy and make sure our records are up-to-date.

If your household changes please tell us. Perhaps someone moves in or out. If there are changes in your household, let us know. If someone dies you may find this leaflet helpful.

Because your tenancy agreement is a legal document we can only remove a joint tenant by:

• mutual agreement – if you both agree, one tenant can ‘assign’ their responsibility to the other tenant. We’d need to see all the paperwork and meet both parties to make sure you are in agreement
• court order – if you can’t agree between yourselves you should seek legal advice from a solicitor or advice centre or Citizens Advice

A joint tenancy to a sole tenancy would only be considered if your rent account it clear.

A joint tenancy is a tenancy that’s held by more than one person – usually two people, who are both named on the tenancy agreement.

Where there is a joint tenancy, both tenants are responsible for making sure the rent is paid and that they (and their family) behave in a responsible way.

We usually only consider applications for joint tenancies for partners (any gender). We don’t normally consider applications for joint tenancies between tenants and siblings, children or other family members.

We’ll need proof that your partner has been living with you for all of the last 12 months – so we’ll need to see bills, benefit awards etc, addressed to your partner at your address.

A sole tenancy to a joint tenancy would only be considered if your rent account it clear.

If you want to find out more about changing a sole tenancy to a joint tenancy, get in touch.

If you are an existing sole tenant, you may want to transfer your tenancy (or as we call it, assign your tenancy).

Assigning your tenancy is ultimately at our discretion however we will work with you to discuss your needs.

If you want to transfer, you need to check that you have an assured tenancy with us plus that your tenancy agreement allows it. If your tenancy agreement doesn’t mention assignment, you will need written permission from us.

When you transfer your tenancy, all the rights and responsibilities of the tenancy pass from the original tenant to the new tenant.

If you’re on a starter tenancy you can’t transfer. We may also refuse to transfer your tenancy if:

• you’ve got rent arrears
• we’ve started eviction proceedings against you
• your home has been adapted for a person with disabilities (and they would no longer be living there)

Assignment will only be considered to someone who would have succession rights.

You may be able to transfer (assign) your tenancy to:

• your spouse or partner (as long as they’ve been living with you in your home for at least the last 12 months)
• another member of your family (including children, parents, siblings and most other close relatives), as long as that person has been living with you for at least the last 12 months

If you want to transfer your tenancy, get in touch.

We call passing on your tenancy succession.

If you die and you’re married, or in a civil partnership, your tenancy will normally automatically pass to your surviving partner, provided that they have lived in your home for the last 12 months.

Your tenancy could also be passed to another member of your family, if they have lived in your home for the last 12 months.

Get in touch with us as soon as possible – especially if you want to succeed to a tenancy of someone who’s died (we need your application within 31 days of the tenant’s death).

Taking in a lodger or sub-letting a room in your home can be a good way to help you pay your rent and share some of your household bills. But – it comes with responsibilities and may affect your benefits.

If you want to take in a lodger or sub-let a room, you need to talk to us first. You’ll also need to contact your council’s housing benefit team.

Contact us and we’ll talk you through the pros and cons.

Remember – you can sub-let a room, but you can’t sublet your whole home. If you do sub-let your property you’ll be breaking the terms of your tenancy agreement.

Give us four weeks or a months notice (depending on tenancy) in writing (you’ll need to pay your rent as normal during your notice period). This letter must be signed by you, the tenant; you can email lettings@soha.co.uk with a photograph of the letter. You’ll need to:

• include your name and address,
• tell us the date you are leaving (allowing four full weeks or a month (depending on tenancy) for the notice period),
• give us a forwarding address,
• pay any outstanding rent and have no money owing to us,
• return all the keys by 12 noon on the next working day after your tenancy has ended,
• remove all your furniture and possessions – do not leave any rubbish behind,
• make sure the property, including the loft, garden, garage and any outbuildings, is in clean, tidy and in good condition before you leave it for the last time,
• let us in for inspections, asbestos and energy surveys,
• let potential new tenants view your home,
• have no debts on your gas or electricity meters, and
• for joint tenancies (in more than one name) either of the named tenants can give notice to end the tenancy. The tenancy will then end for both named tenants.

During the notice period, we’ll arrange to visit your home and carry out an inspection to make sure everything is in good condition.

When you leave, your home (including any garages or sheds) must be left clean and tidy. We’ll have to charge you for any rubbish clearance we have to do on your behalf.

If you are a joint tenant and only one of you wishes to leave please see above section titled “Changing a sole tenancy to a joint tenancy”.

If you are dealing with the death of a Soha tenant, you may find this leaflet helpful.

There are two schemes that could help you to buy your home – right to buy and right to acquire.

Right to buy

This is a government scheme which offers council tenants (and former council tenants who are now our tenants) the chance to buy their home at a discount.

To qualify you must:

• have been a tenant of South Oxfordshire District Council on 7 July 1997, and
• transferred to Soha Housing, and
• have been a tenant with us continuously since then, or
• be a qualifying successor of a tenant who transferred on 7 July 1997

Right to acquire

Similar to the right to buy scheme, the right to acquire initiative applies to tenants who’ve had a public sector landlord for three years. It also gives tenants the right to buy their property at a reduced cost.

You qualify:

• if you were a public sector tenant (not necessarily with us) for three years, or
• your home qualifies (right to acquire only applies to certain homes)

Contact us to see if your home qualifies.

Want more info?

There’s more information about these two schemes in our ‘home ownership – information for tenants’ document.

There’s also more general information about right to buy and right to acquire on the gov.uk website.

Future plans to extend Right to Buy

The Government has plans to extend Right to Buy to more housing association tenants.

If you’re having difficulty managing your tenancy or struggling with the day-to-day challenges of running your own home, we can help.

Our tenancy sustainment service works with both new and existing residents, especially if:

• you’ve not rented before
• you have drug and/or alcohol issues
• you have mental health issues
• you’re a young parent
• you’re a frail older person
• you have a physical or sensory disability
• you’re an ex-offender or are at risk of offending
• you have a learning difficulty or communication issues
• you, or a member of your household, have an issue with hoarding
• you’re a refugee

What can we offer?

Some examples of how we might be able to help are:

• understanding and explaining your benefit entitlement
• finding ways to manage your money and develop your budgeting skills
• explaining housing options available; how to find your next home
• getting help from local services, like your local food bank and Welfare Advice centers
• helping you to look after your health, such as registering with a GP or dentist

How do I get in touch?

Ask your housing officer or call us.

What happens next?

Our Tenancy Sustainment Officers will look at what sort of help you need and how we might be able to help. We’ll arrange a meeting with you to talk through any problems you’ve got. We may contact other family members or people involved in your care.

Together with you, we’ll then draw up an action plan for how we can help, what other agencies might need to be involved, and what changes you might need to make.

If we can’t help you, we’ll tell you why and refer you to other support services.

Step 1 – we get your referral.

Step 2 – we’ll contact your for a meeting. We might contact other people involved in your care with your permission.

Step 3 – either we can’t help  but we’ll try and suggest other services that can help, or we’ll work with you to create an action plan.

How long does it last?

Our Tenancy Sustainment Officer will work with you for between one and six months. We’ll regularly review the action plan with you, to make sure you’re making progress.

When your support comes to an end, we’ll give you information about other services that could help you in the long term.

We cannot help you with:

• personal care
• handling your money
• counselling
• medication

Our service is here to support you to manage your tenancy. It’s not supposed to replace social services, the NHS or any other council/statutory service.

Want some impartial advice about your choices?

Contact your local Citizens Advice service (free, independent and confidential advice) or call them on 03444 111 444.