Council housing - introductory/secure tenancy

[Deleted User]

Does anyone know about council tenancies?

We were a council tenant about 7 years ago, did the introductory year and then became a secure tenent, we were there for about 2 years before moving out for various reasons.
Now we are private tenants and are trying(!) to get another council house (I know, easier said than done), but if we were to be offered a council tenancy in a new house, would it be an introductory tenancy again because it's a new tenancy or would we be instantly secure tenants because we've been council tenants before? We never had any problems with the council in the last tenency.

Also, when it comes to buying a council house you now need 5 years of being a tenant before you apply to buy it, would our previous two years count even though they were in a different house? Not that I can ever see me buying a house, even a council house on an £8k salary, I'm just curious!

Greendayfan

Hi,

It will depend on who you are housed with. A lot of council houses are now owned and managed by housing associations. They can vary greatly, some will have starter tenancies, where you will be required to live there for six months or a year before you become a secure tenant, some will offer you a secure tenancy straight away. I would suggest you speak to the local housing dept at the council. Most councils still retain the housing register then nominate prospective tenants to the housing association, but it really depends on you local authority, the council may still own the property.



I doubt very much if your previous tenancy would count towards being eligible to buy.

embob74

My local council let you use any previous social housing tenancy period towards your right to buy discount but there is a list of which social landlords are allowable.
Chances are if you were a council tenant that period would count towards any discount.
I would have thought that as you would be effectively a new tenant you would have to live in the property for 2 years before you can apply to buy.
I'm basing the above on my local council and I'm not sure whether the rules are nationwide or it's a postcode lottery. If you google your local council website they will have right to buy info or you can contact them.
Of course council houses are like gold dust now so until you are in one there may not be much point in researching things which may never happen.

mrs_motivated

If you are offered another local authority property from an authority that operates an introductory scheme (not all do) then you you will be classed as a new tenant and issued a new introductory tenancy.

pooks

As above it depends on the circumstances of who owns or manages the stock now! My organisation underwent a LSVT from a local authority and now issue assured tenancies over secure with no introductory period.

mrs_motivated

pooks wrote: »

As above it depends on the circumstances of who owns or manages the stock now! My organisation underwent a LSVT from a local authority and now issue assured tenancies over secure with no introductory period.

Quite right pooks. If the local authority has transferred its stock to a RSL then the tenancies will be assured and not secure. If this is the case a new tenant would not have the right to buy but would have the right to acquire (which is different). Existing tenants who transferred over to the RSL will retain their rights.