How long does a council tenancy last?

EltonJohnFan

Hi all,

I've just been speaking with a close family friend and to tell you the truth, I'm a little bit concerned after our conversation. According to my friend, a council property isn't given to me "for life" and that they can evict me at any time... surely that isn't true? I'm a good person and live a quiet life and if if it is true then I think that's incredibly wrong as it makes people worry about whether the roof over their head is permanent. I live in Scotland and I've been in this council property since I turned 18 and never had any problems. My friend is adamant that I won't be here forever and they keep telling me I should make plans incase the council decide to get rid of me but I don't see how that's possible, do you? I'd hate to lose my home, built it up from nothing and it looks really good now, take a pride in my area and to think that all of this could be taken away from me in a heartbeat is frightening.

Jowo_2

Social housing tenants have assured tenancies and there is a high degree of security of tenure which means as long as a tenant doesn't persistently breach the terms of it (such as rent arrears or anti social behaviour), they can have a tenancy for life. Social housing landlords find it very hard to evict their tenants through the courts and it's a last resort which requires lots of evidence.

This compares well with private tenants who rarely have security of tenure past 6 months or a year and where the landlord requires no proof or justification to serve notice and if served correctly, the judge must always award possession to them.

There is talk that the current govt will change the lifetime (assured) tenancies so you'll just have to follow them to find out if this will only apply to new tenancies going forward or will apply to all social housing tenants.

PS - Lose the 'friend'.

EltonJohnFan

Jowo wrote: »

Social housing tenants have assured tenancies and there is a high degree of security of tenure which means as long as a tenant doesn't persistently breach the terms of it (such as rent arrears or anti social behaviour), they can have a tenancy for life. Social housing landlords find it very hard to evict their tenants through the courts and it's a last resort which requires lots of evidence.

This compares well with private tenants who rarely have security of tenure past 6 months or a year and where the landlord requires no proof or justification to serve notice and if served correctly, the judge must always award possession to them.

There is talk that the current govt will change the lifetime (assured) tenancies so you'll just have to follow them to find out if this will only apply to new tenancies going forward or will apply to all social housing tenants.

PS - Lose the 'friend'.

Thank you for that,

I had a feeling this person was jealous of me actually! don't know why I thought that but it seemed to be the obvious conclusion from what they were saying. I really appreciate your help on putting my mind at rest because I was worrying myself sick incase I could simply be evicted at a moments notice by my local council even though I'm a Scottish Secure Tenant according to my tenancy agreement.

McKneff

Some 'friend'

Next time you see them tell them you have looked into the matter and they were completely wrong about what the informed you of.#

Walk away and be thankful that you have found out what a nasty person it is.

princeofpounds

It is likely that any reforms on social housing tenancies will apply only to new tenancies, but not certain.

Of course you live in Scotland where there are different laws, and there are a number of types of housing called 'council housing' which might have different status as actual tenancies, but most probably it is similar to the English situation and most probably you do have a normal council tenancy.

Are there any Scottish experts to confirm?

BitterAndTwisted

I suspect that this "close family friend" is a Daily Mail reader and has confused the conjecture about possible future Local Authority tenancies with the facts.

squinty

Jowo wrote: »

Social housing tenants have assured tenancies .

Except council tenants who have secure tenancies that are, er, even more secure !

But there was an announcement today that the current government may change this.

theartfullodger

According to the wonderful Shelter's "Shelter Scotland" website there are mainly two sorts of council tenancies...

see...

http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/getadvice/advice_topics/renting_rights/council,_housing_association_and_housing_co-op_tenancies

If you are a council, housing association or housing co-op tenant, you will probably have either a Scottish secure tenancy (SST) or a short Scottish secure tenancy (SSST). SSSTs are only created in special circumstances, so if you have not been told specifically that you have an SSST, you will have a Scottish secure tenancy.

You need to read YOUR tenancy agreement (if you can't find your copy ask council for one) and see what it says, not what some "friend" says..

Are you still with the Council?? (And not ex-Scottish Homes stuff or a Housing Assoc??) Some council housing has been transferred to other bodies (ALMOs they are called) and if so your terms of tenancy may have been changed.

Best not to speculate and/or guess about what it "might" be, go read the actual agreement & see what it says..

Best wishes.. At least with a separate Scottish Govt you should be shielded from some of Cameron's dafter ideas .. we'll see what he says tomorrow in the House of Commons...

Artful

Hammyman

Our local council has a policy of moving people into smaller accommodation if, for example, you're a single person occupying a 2 or 3 bed house.

Old_Git

tell your friend they are correct, and you will have to move in with them;)