Secure Tenants
If you have been a North Tyneside Council tenant for more than a year, you will normally get a secure tenancy. As a secure tenant you can live in your home as long as you wish, provided you pay your rent and keep to the conditions explained in this agreement. If we want to end your tenancy we must first give you notice telling you why, and can only take possession of the property with a court order.
2.1 Right to succession
If you are a secure tenant your husband/wife, civil partner or partner has the right to succeed to your tenancy. This means that in the event of your death they can take on your tenancy as long as they were living with you in your home at the time and this was their only or principal home. This is called succession.
If the tenancy is a joint tenancy any other joint tenant still living in the home in the event of your death has the right to succeed to the tenancy.
By law only one succession to a tenancy can take place. This means that if you become a tenant through succession, no one can succeed to your tenancy.
2.2 Right to assignment (legal transfer)
You have the right to assign your tenancy to your husband/wife, partner or civil partner. An assignment is a formal legal process and you must complete the correct documents to make it legally binding. We can provide these documents. Your tenancy cannot be assigned if you took it over by succession or it was originally assigned to you
2.3 Right to exchange
You may swap your home with the home of another secure tenant or with an assured tenant of certain social landlords. You must get our permission first. We may refuse permission if you or the people you want to exchange with do not meet certain conditions.
2.4 Right to take in lodgers or sublet
You may be entitled to take in lodgers or sublet part of your home. You must get our written permission before doing so. Subletting means that someone pays you rent to have an exclusive right to occupy part of your home. You must get our written permission before doing so. You cannot sublet the whole of your home under any circumstances. You are advised to obtain legal advice before subletting your home or taking in lodgers.
2.5 Right to improve
You have the right to improve your home but must get our written permission before doing so. We would only refuse for a good reason. You may improve the property by:
2.5.1 decorating the outside.
2.5.2 altering or adding to the structure.
2.5.3 altering or adding to any fixture, fitting or service.
You must get our written approval first.
2.6 Right to compensation for improvements
At the end of your tenancy you may be entitled to compensation for certain improvements you have carried out to your home, as long as you have met certain conditions.
2.7 Right to buy
You may have the right to buy your home if this is your only home. You must have held a secure tenancy with us or another social landlord for at least three years
2.7.1 We may stop you taking up the right to buy if:
- we have evidence of anti-social behaviour by you or your family members, or
- your home is due for demolition or is in a planned regeneration area.