Contract talk

The passing of someone close to us can be one of the hardest things we ever have to go through.

In this article, we cover how you make changes to your contract including adding or removing someone, terminating your contract with us and what happens to your home if you die.

Making your contract joint
As a tenant, you can add another person to your contract, giving them joint responsibility of your home.

You need to speak to us to make this happen but if you claim any benefits it’s important to mention this so we can check if making the change will affect your payments.

If after checking your benefits you still want to go ahead, you will need to write to us to say you want to make your contract joint. We’ll respond with information about what we need from you and to arrange a home visit. Once this has taken place, you’ll be notified of our decision in writing. 

If consent is granted, we will arrange for you and the other person to sign the required documentation. The person becomes entitled to all the rights of your contract and is subject to all its obligations. This includes any existing or new breaches to the contract.

Removing someone from your contract
There are times when this process needs to be reversed if people’s circumstances change. The person  wishing to withdraw from the contract needs to give us a month's signed withdrawal notice, specifying when they want the contract to end. The withdrawing joint tenant will also need to give a written warning/copy of the notice to the remaining tenant.

If you do not provide us with a signed withdrawal notice, even if you have left the property, you will remain a joint tenant and be subject to all the contract obligations.

Ending your contract and survivorship
If all tenants wish to bring their contract to an end at the same time, we require a month's signed notice from all.

If a joint tenant dies, the contract continues for the remaining joint tenant/s and this is known as survivorship.

We know this is a difficult time but it is important that you provide us with a copy of the death certificate so we can update our records.

If you are a sole tenant living with your spouse/partner and/ or family members (aged 18 or over) as part of your household; after your death we will consider if one or more persons are qualified to succeed you.