Your council tenancy agreement explained

Find an example of a tenancy agreement, assured shorthold tenancy (AST) and a breakdown of what the agreement covers; along with the tenants' handbook.

Introductory and secure tenancies

When your tenancy first starts, it will be an 'introductory tenancy'. If you keep to the terms and conditions of this tenancy agreement, your tenancy will be made ‘secure’ after 12 months. If you break the agreement then we can extend the introductory tenancy to longer than 12 months.

If you are a secure tenant, you get extra rights, including:

being able to take in lodgers
exchange properties with another tenant
applying for permission to make improvements
applying for the right to buy your council home

In some cases, we will use an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) agreement. An AST does not have the same rights as a secure tenancy.

The tenancy agreement is a legal contract so it is important you read and understand the full document before you sign it. You will find the full tenancy agreement at the bottom of this page.

Read an explanation of each section of your tenancy agreement, with examples of what is covered in your agreement.