Introductory tenants and rent arrears

An introductory tenancy is a probationary tenancy lasting 12 months. After 12 months your tenancy will usually become a ‘secure’ tenancy. You will not become a secure tenant if you don’t comply with the tenancy conditions you agreed to when you were offered this property.

Your questions answered

Below are the answers to some questions you may have about introductory tenancies.

What are ‘tenancy conditions’?

What is my responsibility as an Introductory tenant?

What happens if I go into rent arrears?

What happens if I don’t clear my account?

What happens if I don’t keep this appointment or fail to make another one?

What happens at the Case Conference?

What is a Notice for Proceedings for Possession?

What happens if I request a review?

What happens if I break this arrangement?

What is Housing Benefit?

What is an ‘introductory’ tenancy?

An introductory tenancy is a probationary tenancy lasting 12 months. After 12 months your tenancy will usually become a ‘secure’ tenancy. You will not become a secure tenant if you don’t comply with the tenancy conditions you agreed to when you were offered this property.

What are ‘tenancy conditions’?

Your full tenancy conditions are listed in your tenancy agreement. In summary, you must:

• Move into the property
• Pay the rent every week without fail
• Make sure you, your family or your visitors don’t give your neighbours cause for complaint
• Give employees of Lewisham Homes and authorised contractors reasonable access to carry out inspections and repairs to the property

• Take reasonable steps to prevent any damage to the property

As an introductory tenant, you cannot:

• Take in lodgers**
• Sub let any part of the property 
• Carry out improvements to the property**
• Exchange your home with another tenant
• Vote on transferring your home to a new landlord
• Buy the property from the Council*

*The 12 month trial period will count towards your discount.
**In special circumstances the council can allow you to take in lodgers or carry out improvements for example if you need a carer to live with you or you need to improve your home to allow for disabled access.

The main difference between a secure tenancy and an introductory tenancy is that it is quicker and easier for the Lewisham Homes to evict you if you don’t keep to the terms of your tenancy.

What is my responsibility as an Introductory tenant?

Because the legal process for evicting introductory tenants is relatively straightforward it is vitally important you seek immediate advice from your Income Officer if you cannot make a rent payment to avoid eviction proceedings being started against you. If you fail to contact us with an explanation for non payment, the following procedure will apply.

What happens if I go into rent arrears?

We will send you a letter asking you to clear your account or contact your housing officer.

What happens if I don’t clear my account?

We will send a second letter with an appointment date for the housing officer to visit you at home to discuss your rent arrears with you.

What happens if I don’t keep this appointment or fail to make another one?

You will be sent a final warning letter.

If you do not contact us within 7 days to make an arrangement to pay your arrears we will organise a case conference.

What happens at the Case Conference?

Your income officer and income manager will discuss your situation. They will consider any information they have about your circumstances, and may decide to serve a Notice of Proceedings for Possession on you.

What is a Notice for Proceedings for Possession?

This Notice will end your tenancy 28 days after it has been served, unless you have asked Lewisham Homes to review your case.

What happens if I request a review?

A hearing will be arranged with senior members of staff for you to attend. They will then decide on the next course of action.

This will either be to take your case to court for a possession order or to make a new arrangement.

What happens if I break this arrangement?

If you break this arrangement within the 12 month probationary period the Council can take you straight to court for a possession order without issuing a new Notice of Proceedings for Possession or a review panel.

What is Housing Benefit?

If you are on a low income you may be entitled to Housing Benefit, which will reduce the amount of rent that you pay.

If you have made a claim before and not been entitled it is possible that something has changed and you may now be entitled to housing benefit. You can make a claim at any time.

You can complete a Housing Benefit form at your Housing Office or request a form by telephone on 020 8690 8444. Remember that Housing Benefit is there to help you pay your rent. It is your responsibility as the tenant to provide proof of your income and any other information required for the Housing Benefit section to assess your claim.

If you receive full Housing Benefit you will usually still have to pay your water rates, which are not covered by Housing Benefit.

If you need more advice about introductory tenancy or housing advice in general you can contact your housing office or the agencies listed.