Southampton City Council fact sheet
What is an introductory tenancy?
If you rent a home from the council you have to sign a contract called a tenancy agreement. This contract sets out your rights (what you can expect from the council) and responsibilities as a tenant (what is required of you and your household). New council tenants are asked to sign a 12 month introductory tenancy.
This is slightly different to a full secure tenancy in that you do not receive all the rights of a secure tenancy and it gives the council more powers to evict tenants who do not keep to the tenancy agreement. For example, if you do not pay your rent on time or are the cause of anti social behaviour in the community the council can apply to the court for possession of your home.
How long does an introductory tenancy last?
After the initial 12 month period, new tenants who have kept to all the terms of their tenancy agreement will be given a secure tenancy.
If tenants have not kept to the terms of their introductory tenancy the council may either:
Extend the introductory tenancy for another six month period if further review is necessary, or in serious cases
Choose to take back the property.
Who gets an introductory tenancy?
Introductory tenancies are granted to all households new to Southampton City Council, except for:
Applicants who currently have an ‘Assured’ or a ‘Secure’ tenancy
Existing ‘Secure’ Southampton City Council tenants who are transferring to another Southampton City Council home.
How does an introductory tenancy differ from a secure council tenancy?
Many of the tenancy rights for introductory tenants are the same as ‘secure’ tenancies. However as an introductory tenant, you do not have the right to:
Buy your council home
Take in lodgers
Sub-let part of your home
Make improvements to your home
Exchange with another council tenant, or
Transfer to another landlord.
Unlike a secure tenancy, if the council decides that you have not maintained your tenancy in line with the agreement, and it chooses to seek possession of your home, the court has very little option and must give the council possession.
Under what circumstances will the council seek possession?
As an introductory tenant if you break your tenancy agreement, for example, by having rent arrears or by behaving in an anti social way, the law allows the council to take prompt action to seek possession of your home.
Circumstances where the council would consider seeking possession of an introductory tenancy property are similar to those of a ‘secure’ tenant.
A thorough investigation of the situation will take place to see if the problem can be resolved. However, if necessary, the council will take action to evict you (seek possession of your home).
How will I know that the council wishes to seek possession of my home?
If the council have reason to seek possession of your home, your housing officer will contact you at an early stage. This will give you the opportunity to resolve matters and may avoid the council needing to progress court action any further.
If matters cannot be resolved you will be served with a ‘Notice of Seeking Possession’ which gives you 28 days notice before your case goes to court. At that time you will be told where you can get advice and that you can request an independent review of your case if you wish.
If your case goes to court after 28 days notice period has expired, the court must give the council possession of the property if legal procedures have been followed correctly. You will not be able to stop this if the council have followed these procedures.
When will I get a secure tenancy?
When you sign up as an introductory tenant, you will be told the date your tenancy is expected to convert to a ‘secure’ tenancy if you have kept to your tenancy agreement.
Unless the council has served you with a Notice of Seeking Possession, you will receive a letter from us telling you that you are now a ‘secure’ tenant.
NB Applicants who currently have either:
An ‘assured shorthold’ tenancy with a housing association, or
An introductory tenancy with another council
Will have this time counted towards the 12 months as an introductory tenant with Southampton City Council.
For more information about introductory tenancies or to discuss your circumstances, you need to contact your local housing office.
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Last updated: 12 October 2007