Lodgers & sub-letting

If you are a secure council tenant and wish to take in a lodger or sub-let part of your home, you should be aware of the implications this may have to you as the tenant.

Lodgers

If you are a secure tenant, you have the right to take in lodgers. However, you must let your local housing office know in writing if you allow any person to occupy your home as a lodger.

If you want to take in a lodger:

1. Contact your local housing office
2. We will send you an application form or you can download a form here (PDF, 40K)
3. Complete the form and send it back to us.

You may risk losing your home if you take in a lodger and do not remain in residence

If you currently receive housing benefit, you need to the let housing benefit section know if there is a change in your circumstances. They will advise you if this change will affect your benefit. For more information on notifying benefits see changes in circumstance during a claim.

Sub-letting

If you are a secure tenant, you have the right to sub-let part of your home. However, you must first ask for written permission from the council. Permission will not be unreasonably refused, but may be subject to certain conditions.

You may risk losing your home if you:

• sub-let part of your home and do not remain in residence
• sub-let the whole of your property.

To apply for permission to sub-let your home:

1. You need to fill in an application form and send it to us. You can either contact your local housing office, and we will send you one by post, or you can download the form Permission for a sub-tenant, flatsitter and absence application (PDF, 40K)
2. Complete the form and send it back to us
3. We will write to you within 20 working days and tell you our decision.

If you currently receive housing benefit, you will need to let housing benefit section know if there is a change in your circumstance. They will advise you if this change will affect your benefit. For more information on notifying benefits see changes in circumstance during a claim.

Probationary tenants

By law, probationary tenants do not have the right to take in a lodger or sub let part of their home . In certain circumstances however, we may let you take in a lodger or sub-let part of your home, but you must first get written permission from the council. We may refuse permission if you do not meet certain conditions.

Related services

Changes in circumstance during a claim

Contact us & further information

For further information on the above, or any other issues you may have concerning your tenancy agreement, please contact your local housing office.

Pid No: 711