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A. Scope of this agreement
1.1 This agreement sets out the rights and obligations of the council and its tenants. It is the legal contract between us. It covers the following kinds of tenancy:
1.2 Introductory tenancy – Unless you already have a secure tenancy (or some types of social housing assured tenancy other than an assured shorthold tenancy), you begin your tenancy as an introductory tenant. Introductory tenancies are for a trial period. The trial period normally lasts one year but may be extended.
During the trial period, you have less security and fewer rights, for example:
- your home is at much higher risk of repossession if you do not keep to this agreement
- you cannot buy your home
- you cannot exchange homes with other tenants.
1.3 Secure tenancy – If you successfully complete the trial period, you automatically become a secure tenant. If you already have a secure tenancy (or some types of social housing assured tenancy other than an assured shorthold tenancy), you are a secure tenant from the beginning of your new tenancy.
1.4 Demoted tenancy – A secure tenancy may be ended by a court order for some kinds of anti-social behaviour and replaced with
a demoted tenancy. A demoted tenancy has more limited rights, like an introductory tenancy. This is explained in paragraphs 12.4 and 12.5.
1.5 Most of this agreement applies to all kinds of tenancy. Where part of it only applies to some, we say so in the paragraph concerned.
B. Understanding this agreement
1.6 Please take time to read this agreement in full. We acknowledge that much of it will only apply if the situation arises. Where one part of the agreement needs to be read with another part, we have shown that by cross-referencing the other part or paragraph numbers. But the agreement should be read in full to understand how it could affect you.
1.7 Changes to the law can affect tenancy agreements of this kind. This agreement is therefore subject to any such changes that there may be. Paragraph 2.3 explains how we tell you about developments or information that affect your tenancy.
1.8 Definitions
- We – means Norwich City Council’s housing service and the staff responsible for its housing work.
- You – means the tenant (or joint tenants) named in the original tenancy sign-up sheet or to whom the tenancy is passed on under part 13.
- Your home – means the house or flat, including any garden or other land, that is let exclusively to you. Paragraph 10.4 has
- further information about boundaries and the extent of gardens.
- Communal areas – means land around your home that is owned by us for housing purposes, and which is not exclusively let to you or your neighbours. It therefore includes, for example, stairways and landings in blocks of flats and communal parking and access areas.
- Neighbourhood – means your home and all the area nearby (whether it is part of the communal areas or not).
- Rent – means the basic rent and other charges as notified by us to you at the beginning of your tenancy and whenever it changes (see, for example, paragraph 8.14 charges where we maintain your garden).
C. How long does the tenancy last?
1.9 The tenancy carries on indefinitely, rather than for a fixed time. In legal terms, it is a weekly tenancy. It continues running week- by-week (from first thing Monday to midnight Sunday), beginning with the date shown on the original tenancy sign-up sheet,
until it ends as explained in part 14.
D. Responsibility between joint tenants and responsibility for other occupants
1.10 Joint tenancies are almost always between two people. In very exceptional cases, they may be between three or four people. References in this agreement to joint tenants assume that there are only two. If there are more than two, references to both joint tenants should be read as references to all joint tenants.
1.11 Joint tenants are both fully entitled to the rights and fully responsible for the obligations set out in this agreement. This applies even if one of the joint tenants is not in occupation.
1.12 You are responsible for other members of your household and visitors to your home. That means that where this agreement prohibits you from doing something, it applies to them too.
