Your tenancy agreement

About Your Tenancy Agreement

When you moved into your property, you signed a tenancy agreement. This is a legally binding document that sets out your rights and responsibilities. It also sets out the Council’s rights and responsibilities to you.

On 1st December 2022 a revised tenancy agreement was introduced to all tenants of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council following a consultation process pursuant to the variation of the tenancies procedure under Section 102 and s103 of the Housing Act (as amended).

A copy of the tenancy agreement and tenancy policy can be found at the foot of the page.

We use three types of tenancy:

• Introductory
• Secure
• Demoted

If you have been a tenant for less than 12 months, you will probably be an introductory tenant.

You will have fewer rights as an introductory tenant. For example you will not be able to:

• Apply to buy your property (although the period you are an introductory tenant will apply to any discount);
• Vote for a change to a new landlord;
• Sublet your property; or
• Transfer your tenancy to someone else.

In some circumstances we may let you:

• Take in a lodger;
• Make alterations or improvements to your home; or
• Apply to exchange your home.

As long as there are no problems during the first 12 months of your tenancy, you will automatically become a secure tenant. You then get the full legal rights of a secure tenant.
If you have been a tenant for at least 12 months you are likely to be a secure council tenant.
We can ask the Courts to change your secure tenancy to a demoted tenancy if you cause anti social behaviour. This means you will only have the same rights as an introductory tenant. If a Court grants a demoted tenancy, this will last for a period of 12 months.

If you are not sure which agreement you have or if you have an Assured Tenancy or an Assured Shorthold Tenancy with Bury Housing Services, the terms of your tenancy are different.