Manage your Tenancy

Updating Your Household Details 

If anyone has left your household or someone new has moved in, you must inform us of any changes as soon as possible. 

There are many ways you can get in touch to let us know,  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 28 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. The proposed Joint Tenant must have lived at the property as their only principal home for the 12 months before the tenant can apply for them to become a Joint Tenant. The 12 month period cannot begin unless the Association has been told that the person is living in the property as their only principal home.

How to apply?

You and the proposed Joint Tenant 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 .

How quickly will a decision be made?

Providing we have all the information we need, we will let you know in writing within 28 days of receiving your completed application form.

Reasons Why an Application may be Refused

• Where a Notice of Proceedings for Recovery of Possession has been served specifying any ground set out in Schedule 2 to The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
• Where an Order for Recovery of Repossession has been made against the tenant.
• Where the tenancy will not be the only or principal home of the Joint Tenant.
• The Joint Tenancy would lead to an overcrowding situation.
• Where there is substantial damage or disrepair to the property caused by the tenant, a member of the household or a visitor to the property.
• Where a development has been specifically designated for a particular type of tenant such as over 55 years old and the Joint Application does not meet the criteria.
• Where we proposes to carry out work on the house or building so that the proposed work will affect the accommodation.
• Where one of the applicants for a Joint Tenancy has arrears of rent greater than 1 month and has not made or maintained an arrangement for 3 months to reduce the arrears.
• The Joint Applicant has been evicted in the last 3 years for anti social behaviour or the Joint Applicant or a member of their household has had an ASBO granted against them in the past 3 years.
• The house is unsuitable for the Joint Applicant’s needs.
• We have clear evidence that the applicants have caused problems in their tenancies in the 5 years prior to application.

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:

Level 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:

Level 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:

Level 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  Level 1, 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

Any person applying for an assignation must have occupied the property as their principal home for 12 months prior to the applying in writing. The person claiming an assignation must have previously notified the Association when the property became their only principal home.

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 28 days of your completed application being received.

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 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

Reasons Why an Application May be Refused

We will not give permission if we have justifiable reasons for doing so.  Below are some of the grounds under which an Application to Sublet may be refused

A Notice of Recovery of Possession has been served on the tenant on any of the “conduct grounds” set out in paragraphs 1-7 of Schedule 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

An Order for Recovery of Possession has been made against the tenant.

A payment has been received by the tenant, in cash or in kind, in consideration of the sublet other than a reasonable rent or deposit.

The sublet would lead to an overcrowding or under occupancy situation.

AHA intended to carry out substantial work on the property and said work will affect the part of the accommodation to be used by the sub-tenant.

The property in question has had substantial adaptations or has design features which are not required by the sub-tenant or their household.

Where there is substantial damage or disrepair to the property caused by the tenant, a member of the household or a visitor to the property.

Where a scheme has been specifically designated for a particular type of tenant such as over 55 years old and the prospective sub-tenant does not meet the criteria.

Where the term or the condition of the subletting arrangement are deemed to be unreasonable.

The tenant has outstanding debt owed to AHA in terms of their tenancy.

The prospective sub-tenant has deliberately omitted, distorted or given false information on their application.

The tenant or any party included in the application has pursued a course of anti-social behaviour or has been convicted of using a previous tenancy for illegal or immoral purposes or has an ASBO out against them within the past 3 years.

The house is unsuitable for the prospective sub-tenant’s needs.

The tenant or any party included in the application is subject to registration with the Police Scotland under the Sex Offenders Act 1997 and/or the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the property is no deemed suitable for their housing needs.

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 28 days 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.