Manage your Tenancy

Updating Your Household Details 

At Angus Housing Association we aim to make it as easy as possible for you to make changes to your tenancy. There are many ways you can get in touch, just choose the method which is most convenient for you. 

You can either: 

• Complete the household details – click here 
• Inform a member of staff  
• Telephone us on 03451 772244 
• Email us at admin@aha.org.uk 
• Update your details on the Tenant Portal  
• Write to or visit us at one of our offices in Arbroath or Dundee 

The Association will acknowledge changes to your tenancy within 14 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement please contact the office on 03451 772244 or email admin@aha.org.uk. 

If you are notifying the Association of a Joint Tenant leaving the household then you must complete an Ending Your Interest in a Joint Tenancy- click here

A joint tenancy is when two or more people sign a tenancy agreement and jointly agree to keep to its conditions.

This is a legal agreement between you and one or more people, and us. It means that you and the other joint tenant (or tenants) are equally responsible for keeping to all the conditions of the tenancy agreement, including the payment of rent.

Who can apply for a joint tenancy?

You have the right to apply for a joint tenancy with one or more people, but they must be at least 16 years old and either live or intend to live in your house as their main home.

How to apply?

You and the proposed joint tenants must apply for a joint tenancy in writing. You will need to advise us of the proposed change and when you want the joint tenancy to commence. Please complete our Application for a Joint Tenancy- click here .  Our ‘ Guide to Joint Tenancies’ provides detailed information which you may find useful.

How quickly will a decision be made?

Providing we have all the information we need, we will let you know in writing within one month of receiving your completed application form.

Will my application be refused?

We will only refuse a joint tenancy if we have reasonable grounds to do so. The following are some of the reasons we may refuse a joint tenancy:

1.  An Anti-Social Behaviour Order is in place against you or the proposed joint tenant(s).
2.  The proposed joint tenant was previously evicted for anti-social behaviour.
3.  You or the proposed joint tenant owe us rent.
4.  Your home would be overcrowded.
5.  Your home would be unsuitable for the joint tenant.

What if I don’t agree with the decision?

If we refuse your application, you can ask the Housing Manager to review your application. If you are still not satisfied with this decision you can complain using our complaints procedure. Our refusal reason(s) and details on how to appeal will be included with our letter of refusal.

What is a succession?

Succession is where on the death of the tenant a partner, family member or carer would have the right to inherit the tenancy, if they were resident in the house and it was their only or principal home at that time.

Who would qualify?

There are 3 qualifying levels / priorities in determining who should succeed to a tenancy:

1. The first priority is to the surviving spouse, co-habitee of either sex (providing the house has been their principal home for at least 12 months prior to the tenant’s death) or a joint tenant.

If no one qualifies or chooses to succeed from the first priority group:

2. The second priority is to members of the tenant’s family provided they are aged 16 or over and that the house was their only or principal home at the time of the tenant’s death.

If no one qualifies or chooses to succeed from either of the above groups:

3. The third priority is given to a carer who is providing or who has provided care for the tenant or a member of the tenant’s family. The carer must be aged 16 or over and have given up their previous or principal home, to be qualified for succession.

If no one qualifies at level 3 the tenancy will be ended.

Also, when a house has been designed or substantially adapted for the use of persons with special needs, only spouses, co-habitees, same sex partners, joint tenants or persons with special needs can succeed to the tenancy. Other persons who would otherwise be qualified to succeed will have a right to suitable alternative accommodation.

How to apply for succession

Please complete our ‘Application for Succession‘. Our ‘Guide to Succession of Tenancy’ provides detailed information which you may find useful.

How quickly will a decision be made?

Providing we have received all the information we need, you will receive a decision within 28 days of your application being submitted.

What if there is more than one person applying for succession?

In the event of there being more than one qualifying person at any level, the family will be given the opportunity to decide amongst themselves who should succeed. If they are unable to decide then the Association will determine who will succeed to the tenancy. Alternatively, a Joint Tenancy may be considered if appropriate.

What if I don’t agree with the decision?

If we refuse your application, you can ask the Housing Manager to review your application. If you are still not satisfied with this decision you can complain using our complaints procedure. Our refusal reason(s) and details on how to appeal will be included with our letter of refusal.

An assignation of tenancy occurs when a tenant who intends to leave the property conveys all rights and obligations under the tenancy agreement to another person.

How to Assign you Tenancy?

Please complete our ‘Application for Assignation‘. Our ‘ Guide to Assignation/Transfer of Tenancy’ provides detailed information which you may find useful.

Conditions for an Assignation

We will only consider an application for assignation/transfer of tenancy when the proposed tenant can clearly demonstrate that the house has continuously been their only or principal home for at least the 12 months prior to the application being made. To satisfy this requirement the proposed tenant must have:

1. Registered with and accepted by us as a member of the household and

2. Been declared as part of the household with the appropriate authorities’ i.e. council tax etc. and able to provide evidence of residency.

We must be satisfied that:

1. Neither party is being unduly coerced or pressurised

2. The assignation procedures are not being used as a means of circumventing our Allocations Policy.

3. There are genuine reasons for the transfer and that all parties fully understand and accept all the implications and responsibilities of assigning/transferring the tenancy.

How quickly will a decision be made?

Provided we have received all the information we need, we will notify you in writing of our decision within one month of your completed application being received.

What if I don’t agree with the decision?

If your application is refused the reason(s) for the refusal and how to appeal will be stated on the letter. You can ask the Housing Manager to review the decision. If you are not happy with the review decision, please refer to our complaints section for further information; Your-Right-To-Complain. Details on how to do this will be included with our review decision letter.

What does taking in a lodger mean?

The term lodger is used to describe a person (not a member of your household) who has the use of one or more rooms within your home and who may have a formal financial arrangement with you. If you have a lodger you will still live in the house. You can take in a lodger if you rent a whole house or flat from us and you have a spare room. Our ‘Guide to Taking in a Lodger’   provides detailed information which you may find useful.

What is subletting?

Subletting is when you nominate another responsible person to take care of your home, due to you wishing to leave your home for a temporary period but are intending to return to it. This may be due to your work commitments, family commitments or long term travel plans etc. Our ‘Guide to Subletting Your Home’ provides detailed information which you may find useful.

How to apply

You should complete the relevant application form; either the Application to SubLet- click here or Application to Take in a Lodger – click here

Why would my application be refused?

We will not give permission if we have justifiable reasons for doing so. Some of these are:

1. A notice of recovery of possession has been served against you/the proposed lodger or sub-let person.
2. A Decree of Repossession has been obtained against you / the proposed lodger or sublet person.
3. The rent or deposit that you propose to charge is unreasonable.
4. Overcrowding would result.
5. We propose to carry out work on the house or the building.
6. The proposed lodger/sub tenant has been convicted of anti-social behaviour in the last 12 months or has a current anti-social behaviour order.
7. You are leaving for an indefinite period and can’t tell us when you will return.

How quickly will a decision be made?

Provided we have received all the information we need, we will send you a decision in writing within 4 weeks of receiving your completed application.

What if I don’t agree with the decision?

You can ask the Housing Manager to review your application. If you are still not satisfied with this decision you can complain using our complaints procedure. The reason(s) for our refusal and details of how to appeal will be included with our letter of refusal.