Your rights in the first 12 months

If you're a new council tenant, the first 12 months of your tenancy is called an introductory tenancy. This is a kind of trial period.

If you keep to the conditions of the tenancy, you'll become a secure tenant once the first 12-month period is over.

Things that would break your tenancy conditions include:

  • not paying your rent
  • anti-social behaviour
  • hate crime

Your rights

As an introductory tenant you have the right to:

  • have your home repaired
  • succeed to the tenancy
  • get information on passing your tenancy to another person
  • be consulted about issues that affect your tenancy

You do not have the right to:

  • take in lodgers
  • sublet part of your home
  • exchange your property
  • buy your property

If you've moved from another council house

If you're already a secure tenant and move to another council property, you will not become an introductory tenant again.