Tenancy agreement. a guide

Transcription

1 Tenancy agreement a guide

2 Copies of this leaflet can be made available in large print, Braille, or in audio format, as well as in other languages on request.

3 We hope this guide will help you understand your tenancy agreement. If you need any more help, please contact us.

4 Before moving into your new home you will be asked to sign your tenancy agreement. This is a legal document that sets out the details of the agreement between you and Yorkshire Coast Homes (YCH). It explains your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and our rights and responsibilities as a landlord. By using this guide, we hope you will find your tenancy agreement easy to follow. When did you become a tenant? Your type of tenancy agreement I was previously a tenant of Scarborough Borough Council, and became a tenant of YCH on 15 December 2003 You have an Assured Tenancy Agreement for transferring tenants Your rights You will have several preserved rights including the Right to Buy and enhanced security of tenure 4

5 Types of tenancy agreement To understand which tenancy agreement you have, please take a look at the table below. i INFORMATION Security of tenure means the right of a tenant to continue to occupy a home, unless the landlord obtains a court order for possession of the property or termination of the tenancy agreement. If there is anything you need help with please contact your Housing Officer or local office. Ibecame a tenant of YCH between 16 December 2003 and 24 September 2006 You have an Assured Tenancy Agreement (with enhanced security of tenure) You will not be given the Right to Buy but you could be eligible for the Right to Acquire I became a tenant of YCH on or after 25 September 2006 For six months you have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement, followed by a minimum of six months with a Periodic Tenancy Agreement. Under completion of the Periodic Tenancy you will be granted an Assured Tenancy Agreement (with enhanced security of tenure) We will write to you to advise when the enhanced tenure is granted, and you could be eligible for the Right to Acquire 5

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7 ! IMPORTANT Your tenancy agreement is an important document that you may need to reference so make sure you keep it in a safe and secure place. Yourresponsibilities By signing your tenancy agreement you agree to: Pay your rent: Please pay your rent on time, including any service charges.we will give you at least one month s notice in writing of any rent increases, which happen every April in accordance with Government guidelines Look after your home: Please keep your home clean, tidy and in good order, as well as maintaining your garden and hedges Tell us about any repairs: Please tell us when repairs are needed and allow access to the property for the work to be done. We will take care of the necessary repairs but please note that where the damage has been caused by your own neglect or misuse, it is your responsibility to pay for a repair 7

8 Being a good neighbour Working with you we strive to create great places to live, so we ask you to treat your home, your neighbours and the environment with respect. Please keep to the terms set out in your tenancy agreement and do your best to make sure that everyone living with you, or visiting you, also keeps to these terms. The behaviours outlined below have been set out to protect you, your family, friends, neighbours, and your community. Anti-social behaviour It is a condition of your tenancy agreement that you do not cause a nuisance or disturbance to your neighbours. We take anti-social behaviour very seriously and will take action if it is necessary. Illegal or immoral use of your home We take crime very seriously and will take action to evict any tenant who commits a serious offence in or near their property. Examples of such offences include storing, dealing or possessing illegal drugs, stolen goods, racist or illegal pornographic materials. 8

9 Harassment Your tenancy agreement commits you to not harass your neighbours, your family, our staff or contractors. Harassment includes: Racist behaviour or language Using or threatening to use violence Using abusive or insulting behaviour Stalking Damaging or threatening to damage to another person s property Writing threatening, abusive or insulting graffiti Domestic violence As with other forms of anti-social behaviour and harassment, we will take firm, prompt and appropriate action against the perpetrators including action leading to eviction and/or conviction if necessary. Vandalism If you, anyone living with you, or anyone visiting you deliberately damages or defaces any part of your home, estate or anything belonging to us, you will be recharged the cost of rectifying the damage. Litter and rubbish You must not dump rubbish in the street, in your garden or any other part of your estate or local environment. Fly-tipping is an offence and those responsible will be prosecuted. 9

10 Pets You are allowed to keep pets without our permission provided they do not cause a nuisance or a health hazard. All pets should be kept clean and looked after. Aerials and satellite dishes You may install a television aerial to your home, provided you do not damage the structure. You must not drill through window frames or doors. If you want to erect a satellite dish you must first get our written permission. The work must be carried out by an approved contractor and, if you leave the property, you must remove the dish and restore the property to its original condition. If you live in a flat there may be conditions to the permission we grant. Gardens It is your responsibility to make sure your garden is tidy and in reasonable condition. You must not use it to store rubbish or unwanted items of furniture. i INFORMATION If you are elderly or disabled and need help to maintain your garden you should talk to your Housing Officer. Parking Please park considerately. Do not park on grass or open spaces, including your garden, unless there is a dropped kerb and you have written permission and a properly constructed driveway. 10

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12 Yourrights You have the right to live in your home for as long as you have a valid tenancy agreement. We would only ask you to leaveyour home if you break the agreement. Right to pass on your home (also called Succession) Most tenants are able to pass on their home to someone else who has lived with them for at least 12 months, in the case of the tenant s death or following a divorce. If you want to pass on your home, please talk to your Housing Officer. Right to take in lodgers You can take in lodgers without our permission as long as this does not result in your home being overcrowded. However, if you get Housing Benefit you must tell both the Council s Housing Benefit section and council tax department. Right to Buy If you are a tenant who transferred to YCH from the Council and you live in a property which has not been designated as older persons accommodation, nor has been adapted for disabled persons, then you have the Preserved Right to Buy. To exercise this right, you must have lived in the property for two years. You can get a Right to Buy pack from your Housing Officer. This gives full details of discounts, and other details you will need to consider before you decide to buy your home. 12

13 Right to Acquire If you became a new tenant of YCH on or after 15 December 2003 and you live in a property which has not been designated as older persons accommodation nor has been adapted for disabled persons, then you have the Right to Acquire. To exercise this right, you must have lived in the property for two years. You can get a Right to Acquire pack from your Housing Officer. This gives full details of discounts, and other details you will need to consider before you decide to buy your home. Right to be consulted If we want to make any major changes to the way we run the housing service and your local area, we must tell you and give you a chance to tell us what you think of the proposed changes. We will consult you in as many ways as possible. Further details on how we involve our customers can be found in our leaflet Have your say - involving the community available from any of our offices. 13

14 Yourfeedback Listening to your suggestions and complaints is a valuable way for us to improve our service delivery. We are keen to know what you think we did well, and what you think we could improve. If you would like to share your views with us (on any aspect of our service) please contact us: Customer Services Team Brook House, 4 Gladstone Road, Scarborough, YO12 7BH Tel From a mobile info@ych.org.uk If you have a compliment for a particular member of staff we make sure they are told about it and log it on their personnel record. 14

15 How to contact us Yorkshire Coast Homes Brook House, 4 Gladstone Road, Scarborough, YO12 7BH Tel From a mobile (01723) info@ych.org.uk Web. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30-5:00 Northern Area Office The Coliseum, Victoria Place, Whitby, YO21 1EZ Tel From a mobile (01723) Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30-5:00 Emergency Repairs Tel

16 Yorkshire Coast Homes Brook House 4 Gladstone Road Scarborough YO12 7BH Tel From a mobile (01723) Web info@ych.org.uk Facebook. YCHscarboro Yorkshire Coast Homes 2012 TAAG/001