Types of tenancy

This is a tenancy where the rent is charged at 80% of the market rent. The Localism Act 2011 gives social housing providers the discretion to charge affordable rents. Starter tenancies will apply to affordable rent tenancies. Most new builds will be developed as Affordable Rent and any existing Affordable Rent properties will be retained as such upon relet unless deemed to be unaffordable. All Affordable Rent properties will be marketed as such.

This type of tenancy will be used for the Rent to Buy scheme whereby properties are let on an intermediate market rent or where properties have been purchased under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme. Residents of certain specialist supported accommodation i.e. shared accommodation without overnight support, single occupancy with overnight support or learning disability core and cluster independent supported living with low level support needs, will be offered an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.

This is a tenancy granted to tenants when they have successfully completed the probationary period of a Starter Tenancy. This type of tenancy will also be offered to tenants who already hold an Assured or Secure tenancy and are transferring to a Bernicia property or within Bernicia stock. This type of tenancy will be granted to residents of extra care accommodation and supported accommodation with single occupancy and no overnight support.

Assured Protected Tenancy – this is a tenancy held by previous secure tenants of a local authority at the time a stock transfer took place.

This is granted by a court following breach of an assured tenancy condition resulting from anti-social behaviour. A demoted tenancy gives the same rights as an assured shorthold tenancy. This type of tenancy conveys fewer rights and less protection from eviction. Demoted tenancies usually last for one year and will convert to an Assured Tenancy if there are no further issues.

A person under the age of 18 years is unable to hold a legal interest in land. In these circumstances we will seek to grant the tenancy to an adult, such as a member of the minor’s family or, if this is not possible, to another adult (for example a social worker) who will hold the legal tenancy on trust for the minor’s benefit until they reach the age of 18.

This is a tenancy which allows social housing providers to offer a tenancy for a fixed period, usually for a minimum period of 5 years and in exceptional circumstances 2 years. We do not currently offer fixed term tenancies. This position may be reviewed if legislation or the operational or strategic environment changes. However, we do recognise that we need to adopt a flexible approach to maximising mobility and making best use of stock.

This is granted to those renting a garage that does not form part of a residential tenancy.