Tenancy agreements

All our customers have a tenancy agreement that is a legal contract between them and us that sets out their rights and responsibilities.

Types of tenancy agreement

Assured transferring tenancy agreement

An assured transferring tenancy agreement is for people who have been customers since before 2001, when Sunderland City Council transferred properties to us.

Shorthold starter tenancy agreement

A shorthold starter tenancy agreement is for new customers and lasts 12 months but may be extended.

Your Neighbourhood Co-ordinator will visit you during the first 12 months of your tenancy. This is to make sure you are following the terms of your tenancy agreement so you can become an assured tenant. The terms they look at include checking you:

  • pay your rent on time
  • maintain your home and garden
  • are being a good neighbour and not behaving antisocially

Assured tenancy agreement

An assured tenancy agreement is for customers when their shorthold starter tenancy agreement ends. This is when they become assured customers.

Affordable rented tenancy

An affordable rent tenancy is for our affordable rent properties where the rent is 80% of local market rent. We plan to build over 1,200 new, affordable homes to rent by 2026.

Customers with an affordable-rented tenancy will have a shorthold starter or assured tenancy agreement.

Changing the terms of your tenancy agreement

We may only change the terms of your tenancy agreement in one of the following situations. If:

  • you agree that we can change it
  • it is about your rent or service charges
  • we give you a notice that varies your agreement

Before we can give you a notice that varies your agreement we must:

  • let you know we intend to change your agreement
  • what we intend to change, when it will change, and how it will affect you
  • consult with you about the change
  • consider any comments you make before a specific deadline

Ending your tenancy agreement

If you follow the terms of your tenancy agreement, you have the right to stay in your home.

If you are an assured customer, we must get a court order to end your tenancy agreement.

Before we can get a court order, we must serve you with a notice of seeking possession. This notice tells you why we are considering legal action and the earliest date we can take you to court.

Ending a tenancy agreement and taking legal action is something we only do when:

  • we have tried everything else to help a customer manage their tenancy
  • a customer has seriously breached their tenancy agreement