As a Southern Housing resident, you must:
- Pay your rent on time. If you receive welfare benefits, let us know immediately about any changes which may affect your rent or your ability to pay
- Live in your home - you cannot sublet your home to someone else
- Allow us access to your home for gas inspections or to carry out repairs we’re responsible for
- Let us know if you’re going to be away for more than 28 days. And give us details of who we can contact in case of an emergency.
- Be a respectful neighbour – make sure everyone in your home (including visitors) is considerate and doesn’t cause a nuisance to neighbours. Read more about anti-social behaviour.
- Tell us when you intend to move out and give us at least a month’s notice
- Get our permission if you want to make changes or alterations to your home
- Get our permission if you want to run a business from your home
- Never use your home for any illegal activities.
We expect you to:
- Keep to your tenancy conditions. Please refer to your Tenancy Agreement where you can find your tenancy conditions.
- Look after your home (and garden where applicable) and not cause damage to it
- Tell us about repairs need to your home. Remember you are responsible for damage you cause to your home
- Report damage you, members of your household or visitors have caused
- Always keep us up to date with who’s living in your home
- Keep your shared areas clear and not leave caravans, boats or untaxed vehicles on your drive
- Take responsibility for your personal contents (we recommend you take out home contents insurance)
If you break your tenancy agreement we’ll contact you and take appropriate action. If it’s a serious breach, we can take legal action.
Tenancy Fraud is a criminal offence which can lead to a prison sentence. Find out more about the impact of tenancy fraud and how you can report it to us if you suspect something.
Our responsibilities
- Keep to the tenancy conditions
- Take your views into account and consult with you about significant changes to our services
- Carry out the repairs we’re responsible for
- Allow you to carry out your own improvements and alterations with our permission
- Allow you to swap homes with another social landlord or council tenant. This is providing you’re not in rent arrears, have no history of anti-social behaviour and your tenancy agreement permits it
- Give you information on the personal information we hold on you. See our privacy statement
- When you contact us we'll deliver services in line with our Customer Service Promise
- We must deliver services in line with the regulatory standards set out by the Regulator of Social Housing.
- If you have an advocate or someone to help you, that's fine. They can contact us on your behalf – so long as you tell us they can. To set it up for someone to speak on your behalf, please contact us.
We're here to help all residents who are vulnerable, or at risk of losing their home. Find out more about our approach to tenancy sustainment here.
Our Tenure Policy
For those that rent their home from us, our Tenure Policy provides more information about:
- The types of occupation or tenancy agreement we use
- Sustaining tenancies, supporting vulnerable tenants and preventing unnecessary eviction
- Assignment, succession, joint tenancy, mutual exchange
- Tenancy fraud.
