Council housing - tenancy issues
This page provides a brief summary of your rights and responsibilities as a secure council tenant.
Your rights
- security of tenure; you can live in your home for the rest of your life as long as you do what your tenancy agreement says
- you can buy your home at a discount (excluding special needs and sheltered accommodation)
- you can pass on your home to someone in your family living with you when you die
- you can take in lodgers and sub-let part of your home
- you can get certain urgent repairs done to your home
- you can be paid for certain improvements you have made if you move home (approved by the council)
- you can exchange your property for another one
- the right to be consulted on matters affecting your tenancy
Your responsibilities
- you must keep to the rules in your tenancy agreement
- you must pay your rent
- you must be a good neighbour and not annoy other tenants
What your tenancy agreement means
When you sign your tenancy agreement you are entering into a legally binding agreement for which you have rights and responsibilities. The law sets out some of these rights and others are agreed by the council and put in your tenancy agreement.
New tenants are given an ‘introductory’ tenancy agreement which lasts for twelve months, after which the tenancy becomes secure. All introductory tenants must abide by the terms of their tenancy agreement, or risk losing their home.
Please note that the information on this page is not part of a legal document and is only an aid to understanding.
Use of your property
Your council house must not be used as a business premise or for any illegal activity such as selling drugs. If you intend to run a business from your home, you must first obtain permission from the council.
Estate management officers
Estate management officers based at Llangefni and Holyhead assist in keeping the general neighbourhood up to the standard tenants want. They visit all our council estates regularly, noting repairs, listening to complaints and dealing with problems.
Being a good neighbour
Your tenancy agreement with the council clearly states that you must not cause, or allow members of your household or invited guests, to cause nuisance or harassment.
Disagreements with your neighbours
If possible, try to solve the problem between yourselves first. Your neighbour may not be aware they are annoying you. Keep calm, act reasonably and try to work things out together, a friendly word from you can sometimes be enough to sort things out.
Housing Service fact sheets
Moving from your council house
