You become a secure tenant when you have lived in your council property for 12 months, so long as you have kept to the conditions of your tenancy.

Your rights

As a secure tenant you have the right to:

• live in your home for the rest of your life as long as you do what your tenancy agreement says
• 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 (subject to certain conditions)
• take in lodgers and sub-let part of your home
• have your home repaired
• carry out improvements to your home
• be paid for certain improvements you have made if you move home
• help to manage your estate
• exchange your property for another one
• be consulted on housing management matters
• be given information about how we run the homes that we own.

Your responsibilities as a secure tenant

• you must keep to the rules in your tenancy agreement
• you must pay your rent
• you must be a good neighbour and not annoy other tenant.

Sub-letting and lodgers

If you want to sub-let, you must first get written permission from us. We will only refuse if we have good reason.

You cannot sub-let the whole of your home.

How do I get permission?

Contact our housing services team to request permission to sub-let.