Your Rights As A Secure Tenant

Furnished Survey 2010

If you have a furnished package with Wigan and Leigh Housing, you can tell us what you think of this service by downloading the form below. Please print off and return the completed form to the address at the bottom of this page. 

• Furnished Survey Form (.pdf, 20KB)
  
  

Your Rights As A Tenant 

If you are a tenant of Wigan Council you have the right to:

Stay In Your Home

You can only be moved against your will if a court order is granted to get you to move. This may happen if you break any of the rules, or for other special reasons, listed in your tenancy agreement.

Transfer Your Tenancy To A Member Of Your Family

This is called an assignment of tenancy. A tenancy can only normally be transferred, with the approval of your Area Housing Office, when the person wishing to take over the tenancy is either your spouse, or is a close relative who has lived at the property for the last 12 months. Please contact your Area Housing Office if you are considering asking for an assignment of tenancy.

Exchange Your Home With Another Tenant

In order to do this you must get written permission beforehand from your Area Housing Office, who will need to be satisfied that certain conditions are met before the exchange is approved. Your Area Housing Office has lists of people from inside the Wigan Borough and other parts of the country who want to exchange homes.

Take In Lodgers Or Sublet The Property

Subletting is when a tenant allows another person to live in all or part of their home and takes rent from the other person. You may take in lodgers, providing that this does not lead to overcrowding. However if you wish to sublet all or part of your home you must first obtain written permission from your Area Housing Office. Taking in lodgers or subletting the property may affect your entitlement to Housing Benefit.

Carry Out Your Own Improvements 

If you wish to make improvements to your home you must obtain advice and written permission from your Area Housing Office before starting the works. If you do not get permission it could result in you being recharged for any damage caused as a result of the work, or for the cost of putting right any alterations that have to be made, when you leave the property.

Claim Compensation For Any Improvements That You Carry Out

If the improvements were carried out after the 1st April 1994, then you may be able to claim compensation when you end your tenancy. You should have obtained permission from Wigan And Leigh Housing to carry out the improvements.

Have Your Property Maintained

The Council has to keep the structure of your property in good repair, including installations for water, gas, electricity supply, sanitation (i.e. baths, sinks, toilets etc.) and heating systems. Please remember that you have a responsibility to cooperate with the Council and its repair contractors and allow them into your home for works to be carried out.

Have Urgent Repairs Carried Out Within Specified Time Limits

The types of repairs that are included are those that affect health and safety. When you report a repair, you will be advised whether it is the type of repair that qualifies for urgent attention. For further information about this ask for a copy of the 'Right To Repair' leaflet at your Area Housing Office.

Be Informed About Policies For Letting Properties

The allocation and lettings policies are common to the whole of Wigan Borough area and have been selected to help those in the greatest housing need. Booklets explaining the Transfer Waiting List Scheme (for existing Council tenants) and the Housing Register Scheme (for all other applicants) are available from your Area Housing Office.

Be Informed About The Council's Performance As A Landlord

A report called 'Housing Matters' is distributed to all tenants at least twice a year. This provides you with information to show how well Wigan and Leigh Housing has performed with the services it provides to you. 'Housing Matters' also includes information about improvements to services and other items of interest to our tenants.

Be Consulted On Decisions Relating To Housing Management That Will Affect A Group Of Tenants

Examples of this may be  major repair and improvement schemes. Your views will be considered before any decisions are made.

Be Consulted About Proposed Changes In Conditions Of Tenancy

You will be consulted and your comments will be considered before any changes are made to your tenancy agreement.

Buy Your Home

If you have been a secure tenant for at least two years, then under the Right to Buy scheme you may be able to buy the home that you live in. Further details are available from the Income and Home Sales Section by telephoning Wigan (01942) 701350.

Succeed To A Tenancy After The Death Of A Tenant

If the tenant dies, the tenancy may pass to the tenant's partner if he or she occupied the dwelling as his or her home at the time of the tenant's death. If the tenancy does not pass to the partner, then it may pass to a close member of the tenant's family who has lived in the property for at least the 12 months immediatley before the death of the tenant. The Area Housing Office should be contacted as soon as possible following the death of a tenant. The Area Housing Office will give you advice about the tenancy.

If you would like further information about any of the points raised on this page then please contact your Area Housing Office.