Name change
We will agree to amend your tenancy following a name change, as long as you can provide sufficient legal evidence. This can be provided by a deed poll, marriage certificate or civil partnership documentation.
We will process your application and tell you our decision.
Joint to sole tenancy
When ending a joint tenancy, the remaining tenant will be liable for any rent arrears relating to the tenancy.
The relinquishing tenant will remain jointly and severally liable for any arrears on the account up to the date the tenancy is transferred to a sole tenancy.
In order to consider removing a tenant from a tenancy we MUST be provided with contact and address details of the relinquishing tenant, otherwise we will be unable to process the application.
In the event that you do not have contact details for the relinquishing tenant then you may need to apply for a court order to amend the tenancy.
We will process your application and tell you our decision.
Sole to joint tenancies
We may agree to the creation of a joint tenancy between a spouse or partner. Each case is considered on its own merits. Permission will normally be granted unless:
- There has been a breach of the tenancy agreement, especially if this is due to rent arrears or anti-social behaviour
- If a Notice of Seeking Possession has been served, where proceedings have been commenced or where a court has made an order for possession, whether outright, suspended or postponed
- Spouse/partner is under 18 years of age
- Partner has lived in the property for less than 12 months
- There has been a previous joint tenancy
- The proposed joint tenant has an existing tenancy elsewhere or currently owns a property.
- The proposed joint tenant has current or former rent arrears with any social landlord
- It cannot be determined that there is a committed partnership
- The proposed joint tenant has financial means that exceed the financial criteria within the Allocations policy.
Tenant's partner/spouse must be able to provide sufficient evidence of occupancy.
We will process your application and tell you our decision.
Termination of tenancy
If you wish to end your tenancy, you must provide 28 days notice of your intention to terminate your tenancy.
You must remove all goods, furniture and personal effects from the property and ensure that you return your keys to the Town Hall by 12 noon on the Monday on which you wish to terminate your tenancy.
An inspection of the property will be required prior to the actual termination date. If you fail to arrange access or there is property damage on inspection that is considered to be tenant responsibility, you will be liable for additional costs.
Succession of tenancy
If you die, your partner, spouse or civil partner may be able to succeed to your tenancy, subject to meeting the relevant criteria.
They must be permanently living in your home for at least 12 months. This is what we call a 'succession to tenancy'. In this case, the person wishing to take over the tenancy will need to complete the online form below:
We will process your application and tell you our decision.
If the person who takes over your tenancy dies, no one living with them will have an automatic right to take over the tenancy in the same way. In this instance, you should contact the Council for further advice.
Any other changes to your tenancy
You must contact the housing office immediately if there are any changes to your tenancy, or any changes to the people who are living with you at the property.
If you do not tell the council of any changes you may be in breach of the terms of your tenancy agreement.
Report a death
If you wish to report the death of a Brentwood resident, please complete the online form below, which will allow you to inform the different areas within Brentwood Borough Council. We will also require a copy of the death certificate.
Mutual exchanges
If you're a secure tenant of the Council or another social housing landlord including assured tenants with housing associations, you may apply to exchange or swap your home with another tenant. We call this a mutual exchange.
You must not owe any debt to the Council (this includes council tax and housing benefit). In your new home, you must not be overcrowded or under occupying by more than one bedroom.
If you are an introductory tenant or a non-secure tenant (such as people in temporary accommodation), you are not permitted to exchange.
You can advertise your home for exchange with another tenant by:
- advertising in the local paper or a local shop
- registering with Homeswapper - we pay for our tenants to use the site
- Mutual Exchanges are initiated by the residents, it is therefore your responsibility to ensure you have viewed the property you intend to move to and understand that you are moving to the property as seen.
- The Council will conduct gas and electric safety checks and where remedial works are required, these will be completed before the exchange is allowed to proceed.
- You will be asked to sign a disclosure to accept responsibility for any tenant damage noted at the property (as much as reasonably can be with furniture in situ) and the Council will not complete any remedial works on these. It will be for you to rectify upon moving into your new property.
- You are responsible for notifying all utility companies, including council tax and benefits, that you have changed address. The Council will not do this for you.
- All rent and/or other debts owed to the Council must be paid up in full on the day of deed signing, we aim to repay any overpaid rent to you within 28 calendar days of your exchange to allow for any reconciliations on the account.
- If you are on the transfer register, upon completion of your mutual exchange, you will lose any transfer points you may have earned whilst at your current address. If an application is submitted and cancelled prior to completion, you will retain your points.
- A lot of work is done behind the scenes for mutual exchanges, therefore, you will only be contacted by your housing officer if and when we require information from you.
- We will not be able to provide you daily or weekly updates, but will endeavour to complete the entire process within six weeks as stated above.
Once you have found a person to exchange with, each applicant will need to submit the form.
We will then aim to give you a decision within six weeks as to whether the exchange has been approved or not.
As part of your application you will be required to provide copies of the below documentation;
- Two forms of ID for ALL members in the household one of which must be photographic (EG, passport, birth certificate, counter signed photographs)
- Two passport sized photos for all adults in the household
- Proof of residency for all adult members of the household (EG, utility bill, bank statement)
- Proof of National Insurance numbers for all adults in the household
- Proof of child benefit (If applicable)
Failure to provide the above listed items may result in your application to exchange tenancies being refused or delayed. It is therefore in your best interests to provide this information with your application or as soon as possible after your application submission.
All mutual exchanges are subject to a variety of checks:
- Money owed to the Council - this can include but is not limited to rent, council tax, former tenant debts and court costs.
- Property inspection - a member of our repairs team will visit your property. any repairs issues will be highlighted. should any damage be deemed tenant neglect or damage, you will be required to correct this or make full upfront payment for the works to be conducted.
- Gas and electric checks - each new tenant must have these checks and we conduct them towards the end of the exchange.
If you're ready to apply for a mutual exchange
Once you have read all the above information, you can: