Here is some important information that forms part of your tenancy agreement.

Rent rises 

At the beginning of your tenancy we tell you how much your rent is in your tenancy agreement. 

We normally change your rent once a year in April. We will never change your rent without telling you about it in writing at least four weeks in advance.  

Lodgers 

We are happy for you to take in lodgers if you are a secure tenant as long as your home does not become overcrowded. However, we would appreciate it if you discuss your plans with us before you decide to go ahead. You should also be aware that taking in lodgers might affect any benefit entitlement.  

Subletting 

You may be able to sublet part of your home, such as a bedroom. Please contact us beforehand so that we can agree this arrangement. Please contact the housing management team on 01246 345071. 

You do not have the right to let the whole of your house or flat to someone else. If you do so, you will no longer be a secure tenant and we shall take action to repossess the property. Subletting might affect any benefit entitlement.  

Making changes to your home 

You must get our written consent before you carry out any alterations or improvements to your property. Failure to do this may result in us asking you to undo the work or you may be charged if we need to put something right. Find out more about making changes to your council home.   

Living in a flat 

Please consider the needs of your neighbours, just as we expect your neighbours to consider your needs. This is especially important when you live in a flat as you are so near to your neighbours. 

Please help us to take care of the shared areas such as lifts, hallways, and stairs, bin areas and gardens, and keep communal areas completely clear from rubbish and any other items. Rubbish should be disposed of by placing it down the chute or in the communal bins. Bin chutes and bin store doors must be kept closed at all times. Bags of rubbish should never be left outside, in communal areas or near the chute areas as this attracts rats, mice and other animals. It is unsightly and unhygienic and can be a fire or trip hazard.  

Mobility scooters 

Unless there is designated provision, mobility scooters must not be stored in communal areas of flats and independent living schemes (including store rooms) due to the potential fire hazard. 

Before you buy a mobility scooter, please contact the housing management team for advice on storing it. If you buy a scooter it is normally your responsibility to safely store and charge it. If you want to erect an external store, you must ask for permission to do so. The housing management team can be contacted on 01246 345071.  

Running a business from home 

We recognise that many people now work or run a business from home. We do not want to put up any unnecessary barriers to this. However, you must have our written permission before you start doing this. We need to be sure there is no risk to people’s safety, to our property or of any nuisance being caused. 

You must also have, and maintain, any necessary insurance, such as public liability insurance and legal permission, such as planning permission or an operating license. 

If your business, trade or work breaks any tenancy condition we will cancel our permission for it. You will then have to close the business or stop working from home.  

Parking 

Please park considerately and take care not to cause an obstruction or interfere with emergency or other services, such as the refuse collection. 

In the interest of your neighbours and your surroundings, please keep the vehicles parked at your home roadworthy and avoid undertaking major vehicle repairs. 

In some estates, parking areas are provided. These are for short-term use by residents and tenants and not for the use of storing or carrying out work to vehicles. 

If you wish to park your vehicle or a caravan on your garden, we are happy for you to do so, as long as there is suitable hard standing and a dropped kerb. If you do not have a suitable place to park your vehicle, please discuss your concerns with us, and we will do our best to help you.  

Pets 

We recognise that pets are part of your family, so please tell us about any animals that you may wish to bring into your home. We can then assess the suitability of your home. 

You are generally allowed to keep small domestic pets such as dogs, cats, small caged animals and birds or fish, as long as they are well cared for and do not cause a nuisance. In our independent living schemes written permission is required to keep cats or dogs but permission is not normally given to replace a pet. 

You must keep your pets under control at all times and ensure that your pets do not cause any nuisance. 

If we have reason to believe that an animal is causing a nuisance, we may withdraw permission to keep the animal. We would give you the reasons for this and allow reasonable time for you to comply.  

Flooring 

If you live in a flat, you must get written consent from us before fitting any type of hard flooring, such as laminate or vinyl.  

Gardens 

You must get our written permission before you start work to build or install anything to improve your garden or convert part of it to park your vehicle on. We need to ensure that work meets certain standards and is in the interests of safety and the appearance of our estates. We will not unreasonably refuse permission. 

If you have a garden, please keep it tidy. Trees, hedges and shrubs should be trimmed regularly and not allowed to grow on to footpaths as this can be dangerous to people using them. If you are advised a tree has a preservation order on it, please do not prune or remove it. You must not remove a tree or bush without permission. 

You should not have a barrier (such as a fence or hedge) which is over two metres high in your back garden or at the side of your house, or over one metre high in your front garden. 

Please do not put rubbish or store unwanted bulky items in your garden. Find out how our bulky waste collection service can help you get rid of large items that you can dispose of yourself.  

If you are unable to look after your garden and have no one who can help, you may be eligible for our garden assistance scheme.  

TV, radio and satellite television 

In most flats we provide a communal TV aerial for everyone to connect to. 

If you live in a house you are responsible for your own TV aerial. You do not need our permission for an ordinary TV aerial or to connect to cable TV, but you must have our permission before you put up a satellite dish.  

CCTV 

You must get permission before installing any CCTV equipment. Permission will only be given if it complies with conditions set out by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).   

The Information Commissioner’s Office state that a camera should be positioned to view up to the boundary of the garden/property that is used by you and your household.  Ultimately, CCTV equipment should be used to ensure the security of the property it is installed on, rather than for the purpose of recording the activities of surrounding neighbours. 

Further guidance which advises you about your responsibilities relating to any recordings that are made on your camera, and the rights of any neighbours that are filmed or recorded can be found from the ICO (link) 

If you are putting up a camera on insulated render, it will also be necessary to ensure that any camera is installed using appropriate fixings, to ensure that there is no damage.