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Secure tenancies

Where registered housing associations operate an introductory tenancy scheme you will automatically become a secure tenant after 12 months, provided you don't breach the conditions of your tenancy.

Your rights as a secure tenant

As a secure tenant you have the right, subject to meeting any applicable criteria or gaining the approval to:

  • live in your home for the rest of your life as long as you continue to comply with the requirements of your tenancy agreement
  • buy your home at a discount, after a qualifying period
  • pass on your home to someone in your family living with you when you die to succeed the tenancy, provided that you yourself, had not succeeded the tenancy - subject to certain conditions
  • take in lodgers and sub-let part of your home with the written consent of the housing association, although you should note that this may affect any housing benefits that you are receiving
  • have your home repaired - some repairs are the responsibility of the tenant while others are the responsibility of the housing association - contact your housing association for further information
  • carry out improvements to your home, subject to written consent from your housing association
  • be compensated for certain improvements you have made if you move home
  • help to manage your estate
  • exchange your property for another one with the written consent of both landlords
  • be consulted on housing management matters
  • be given information about how your housing association runs the homes it owns

Your responsibilities as a secure tenant

As a secure tenant you have the following responsibilities:

  • you must meet the requirements stated in your tenancy agreement
  • you must pay your rent on time
  • you must be a good neighbour and not cause a nuisance, annoyance or disturbance to other tenants

Other types of registered housing association tenancy

Most registered housing association tenants who live in self-contained accommodation are secure tenants. However, some people who rent from their housing association do not fall into this category. You do not have a secure tenancy if you fall into one of the following categories.

Your tenancy started less than a year ago and your housing association operates an introductory tenancy. In this case you will be an introductory tenant. This is a trial or probationary tenancy and means you can be evicted more easily by your landlord

You live in temporary accommodation that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive arranged because you were homeless. Although you do not have a tenancy, you should get priority on the waiting list for a tenancy. If you are offered a tenancy it will be either an introductory tenancy or a secure tenancy.

You work for the housing association and your home comes with your job. Here you are probably a service occupier and thus have very different rights to other tenants. You should contact your association for further information.

Tenancy agreement

Your registered housing association should give you a written tenancy agreement explaining the rights and responsibilities you have as a tenant. This document should tell you:

  • what kind of tenancy you have
  • what your rights and responsibilities are
  • under what circumstances you could be evicted
  • how repairs should be carried out
  • how much rent you have to pay, when you have to pay it, and when it can be increased

Buying your property

The House Sales Scheme gives eligible tenants of the Housing Executive and registered housing associations the right to buy their property from their landlord at a discount. Buying a home is a long term financial commitment so always make sure you get independent financial and legal advice before you make the decision.

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