Succession
Can a tenancy be inherited?
When a tenant dies, it may be possible for another person to take over the tenancy. This is known as succession. Whether a tenancy can be inherited depends on the type of tenancy, the tenancy agreement, and your relationship to the person who has died.
To assess a succession request, we will usually ask you to provide evidence of:
- Your identity.
- Your relationship to the deceased tenant.
- How long you have lived at the property.
Joint tenancies
If you are a joint tenant and the other joint tenant dies, the tenancy will normally transfer to you automatically, and you will become the sole tenant.
Married couples, civil partners and cohabiting partners
You may have the right to succeed to an assured tenancy if:
- You were the tenant's husband, wife, civil partner or partner.
- The property was your main and permanent home at the time of the tenant's death.
Other family members
Where there is no surviving spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner, another family member may be entitled to succeed to the tenancy, depending on the tenancy agreement and individual circumstances.
Need help?
If a family member has died and you are unsure whether you can succeed to their tenancy, please contact us as soon as possible. We can discuss your circumstances, explain the evidence required, and guide you through the process.
Amending my tenancy
Adding a partner to your tenancy
If you would like to add your partner's name to your tenancy agreement, please contact us to discuss your request.
If you are married or in a civil partnership
You will need to provide:
- A copy of your marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate.
- Valid identification for all household members.
If you are not married or in a civil partnership
We would consider adding your partner to the tenancy if they have lived at the property as their main home for at least 12 months.
You will need to provide evidence confirming residency for the previous year, such as:
- Utility bills.
- Bank statements.
- Mobile phone bills.
- Other official correspondence showing the address.
Removing a joint tenant
If a joint tenant has left the property, we cannot normally remove their name from the tenancy without:
- Their written consent, or
- A court order.
If this applies to you, please contact us and we will discuss the options available. We also recommend seeking independent legal advice before making any decisions about your tenancy.
If your partner has ended the tenancy
Where one tenant has ended a tenancy and another household member remains in the property, we will assess the circumstances on an individual basis.
When considering any request to remain in the property, we may take into account factors such as:
- Whether the tenancy was a joint tenancy.
- Whether there are dependent children living in the home.
- The housing needs of those remaining in the property.
- Any other relevant personal circumstances.
We will always aim to provide appropriate advice and support throughout the process.
Adding other family members to a tenancy
We would not normally agree to add relatives, such as adult children or other family members, to an existing tenancy agreement.
Tenancy changes and rent arrears
Requests to amend a tenancy will not normally be approved where there are outstanding rent arrears. However, we recognise that exceptional circumstances can arise, and these will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Supporting documents
Depending on the change you are requesting, you may be asked to provide:
- Valid photographic identification.
- Marriage or civil partnership certificates.
- Deed Poll documentation for a change of name.
- Proof of address and residency.
- Any other documents relevant to your request.
Providing all required information at the earliest opportunity will help us process your request as quickly as possible.