Tenancy type
Our Tenancy Policy sets out how we offer and manage different types of tenancies.
When you're offered a home, we'll tell you in writing what type of tenancy you qualify for. We offer three different types of tenancies:
- Introductory tenancies
- Secure tenancies
- Flexible tenancies
Introductory tenancies
If you've never been a council or Housing Association tenant before, or you've had a break in your former council or Housing Association tenancy then you may be offered an Introductory Tenancy.
Frequently asked questions about Introductory Tenancy
Your introductory tenancy will last for one year, which is called ‘the trial period.'
Introductory tenants don't have the same rights as secure tenants. They can't:
‘Right to Buy’ their home.
In certain circumstances, with our written permission, we may let you:
- Take in a lodger
- Sublet all or part of your home
- Carry out any improvements or alterations
Yes. We can take action to bring your tenancy to an end if you've broken the terms of your tenancy agreement, for example didn't pay your rent or caused serious anti-social behaviour (ASB) and we've worked with you to try to solve the issues. If we want to end your tenancy, we would serve you with a Notice of Possession Proceedings.
If you seriously or consistently break the terms of your tenancy, we'll ask the court for permission to evict you. We'll only evict you if what you've done is serious and the court agrees with us.
We'll always try to work with you to provide support before we take legal action. Behaviour that may lead to us ending your tenancy includes:
- Rent arrears or constantly not paying your rent on time
- Nuisance, annoyance, or harassment in the area you live
- Using your home for criminal activities
- Deliberately damaging your home, gardens, or shared areas
- Giving false information to get the tenancy
- Not looking after your home or garden
You have the right to ask us to review our decision. Information on how to request a review, how long you have to request this, and contact information, will be on the Notice of Possession Proceedings.
Yes. We can extend your introductory period by a further six months if you've broken the terms of your tenancy agreement, for example not paid your rent or caused serious anti-social behaviour (ASB). We would normally have warned you about your behaviour and worked with you to solve the issues.
We give Notice of Extension papers to introductory tenants when they have broken the conditions of their tenancy. The legal action we're taking will result in us extending your introductory tenancy by six months.
You have the right to ask us to review our decision. Information on how to request a review, how long you have to request a review, and contact information, will be on the Notice of Possession Proceedings.
If you want independent advice about your situation, you should contact Citizens Advice, housing-aid centre, law centre, or a solicitor.
If you want advice about the possibility of homelessness, you should contact the council's homelessness and housing advice service on 01226 773870.
Secure tenancies
A Secure Tenancy is given to those tenants that move (either by way of a transfer or mutual exchange) and were a Secure Council Tenant or an Assured Housing Association Tenant at their previous property before the move took place. As a secure tenant you can live in your home for the rest of your life as long as you comply with your tenancy agreement.
Frequently asked questions about Secure Tenancy
Secure tenants (along with Flexible Tenants) have a number of rights that other tenants don't have including:
- The right to exchange your home with another council or Housing Association tenant provided you've applied for and received our permission
- Subject to eligibility, you may have the Right to Buy your council home
- The right to make improvements to your home, provided you have our written permission
- Right to assign your home (give it to someone else) or apply for a transfer
- Right to take in a lodger
- Right to sub-let part or all your home, with our written consent
Yes, but evicting a tenant is a last resort. If you seriously or consistently break the terms of your tenancy, we'll ask the court for permission to evict you. We'll only evict you if what you've done is serious and the court agrees with us. We'll always try to work with you to sort out any problems before we take legal action. Behaviours that may lead to us ending your tenancy include:
- Rent arrears or constantly not paying your rent on time
- Causing nuisance, annoyance, or harassment in the area where you live
- Using your home for criminal activities
- Deliberately damaging your home, gardens, and shared areas
- Giving false information to get the tenancy
- Not looking after your home or garden
Flexible tenancies
Flexible tenancies help make sure we're making the best use of the limited housing available in Barnsley. Flexible tenancies have many of the same rights as secure tenancies, including 12 months as an Introductory Tenant, but your tenancy has a fixed end date.
5 Year Flexible Tenancies
We’ll offer five year flexible tenancies on the properties listed as we have a shortage of these types of homes:
- Four or more bedrooms
- Been built specially for people with disabilities
- Had significant adaptations to make the home suitable for people with disabilities, this could include an extension
- Had three or more of the following adaptations: stair lift, through floor lift, level access shower, ramp, wider doors, or lower kitchen units.
2 Year Flexible Tenancies
We’ll offer 2 year flexible tenancies in a small number of cases, to people who have previously been involved in incidents of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and/ or have serious rent arrears but are making efforts to address previous difficulties. This is to give applicants the opportunity to continue their change of behaviour and to continue making payments off any rent arrears/ tenancy related debt.
We may also consider flexible tenancies to help vulnerable households who are receiving tenancy related support, to give the opportunity to develop the skills needed to manage a tenancy, for example care leavers.
If we’re going to offer you a two year flexible tenancy, we’ll let you know when you apply to be on the housing register. If you’re unhappy with this you can ask us to review the decision.
What happens at the end of my fixed term?
At least six months before the end of your fixed term, we'll write to you to let you know if the decision has been made to either:
- Renew the tenancy on:
- Another flexible tenancy, or
- As a secure tenant
- Not renew the tenancy
Where we decide not to renew the tenancy we'll work with and support you with advice and assistance to help you find suitable alternative accommodation.