When you move into a council-owned property, you sign a document to agree to the terms and conditions of the tenancy.
This is called a tenancy agreement.
The tenancy agreement defines the type of tenancy you have with us.
Your tenancy agreement is a legal contract between you as the tenant and Hounslow Council as your landlord. You must make sure that you keep to the terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement. Your visitors and any lodgers you may have must do this too.
What's in your tenancy agreement
All tenancy agreements have information about:
- paying your rent
- living in and looking after your property
- nuisance and anti-social behaviour
- ending your tenancy
- what we’re responsible for
- your rights as a tenant
Your tenancy agreement has information about:
- when your tenancy starts and ends
- how many people can live in your house or flat
- how much rent you must pay
Paying rent
The tenancy agreement has information about paying your rent.
On this website you can also:
- pay your rent
- get help if If you have problems paying your rent
- find out about rent arrears and options for paying back debt
Looking after and living at your property
Your tenancy agreement sets out the terms and condtions for living in your property. These include:
- replacing or repairing things that gets broken because you haven’t looked after them properly
- requesting any repairs we need to make, like leaks, blockages or problems with your building
- letting council staff into your home for or safety checks, such as gas servicing
- not leaving your home empty for more than three months without letting us know
- getting permission from us to sub-let your home or take in lodgers
Nuisance and anti-social behaviour
You, your family, and any visitors to your home must not get involved in anti-social behaviour.
Anti-social behaviour includes:
- damaging or abusing your property
- making unreasonable noise in your property
- causing nuisance, verballing or physically abusing, or initimidating anyone living near you
- allowing a dog to cause nuisance, annoyance or intimidation
- being involved in any illegal activity in or around your property
Any involvement in anti-social behaviour puts your tenancy at risk.
Ending your tenancy
Your agreement states that you must let us know when you want to move out of your home.
See: Terminate a council tenancy
What we’re responsible for
As part of your tenancy agreement we will:
- carry out repairs to your home
- look after your estate and communal areas
- carry out gas and electricity safety checks
Your rights as a tenant
Your tenancy agreement sets out your rights as a tenant. They include your rights to:
- improve the condition of your property
- take in a lodger or sub-tenant
- exchange your property
- succession when a tenant dies
- buy your property when you qualify by meeting certain conditions
- get information we have about you or your tenancy
If you breach your tenancy conditions
If you breach the terms of the tenancy agreement, we can:
- extend your trial period by six months or end your tenancy, if you’re an introductory tenant
- get a court order to repossess your home
