Understanding your rights and responsibilities as a tenant | Tenant news

“A man's house is his castle” is a common saying used by many people about their home.

The phrase emphasises the private and personal nature of a home, and the right to privacy and security within it. And we believe that, as a Habinteg tenant, knowing your rights will help you handle any problems with your tenancy and ensure you are treated fairly.

What are your rights?

These are a few of the core rights that social housing tenants hold under government legislation, which are reinforced by organisations like the Housing Ombudsman.

As a social housing tenant, you have the right to:

• Stay in your home long-term, often indefinitely, if you meet the terms of your tenancy.
• Live in a home that is safe, well-maintained, and meets health and safety standards.
• Have repairs carried out by our contractors within a reasonable time.
• Be treated fairly and equally.
• Receive clear and timely updates about your tenancy and services provided.
• Ask for information about how your home and services are managed.

Your home must meet the Decent Homes Standard, which means it must be in good condition, free from major health risks and has heating that works properly.

You also have a right to be heard, including the right to raise any issues with your home or the services we provide, suggest improvements, or ask how decisions are made.

If there’s something you’d like to let us know, you can share your thoughts with us, or speak to your Neighbourhood Coordinator.

Tenant responsibilities

Being a Habinteg tenant comes with responsibilities too.

You must live in the property as your main or only home and are responsible for paying your rent and any other charges on time. If you have any worries about paying rent, you can call Habinteg Direct on 0300 365 3100 and ask to speak to the Rent Assist Team.

You’re also responsible for looking after your home and garden, including keeping them clean and tidy and doing small repairs when needed.

If you’d like to make any changes to the property, such as putting up a satellite dish or TV aerial, you’ll need to ask us for permission first.

You must behave in a respectful way towards your neighbours and make sure that anyone visiting your home, such as family or friends, does the same.

You must also avoid acting in an antisocial way, like making loud noise or being abusive. Serious or repeated issues, whether caused by you or your visitors, could put your home at risk.

You must allow Habinteg staff or contractors into your home when they need to inspect it or carry out repairs.

If you plan to be away for 28 days or more, it’s your responsibility to let us know in advance.

Finding support

If you’re unsure about your rights or responsibilities, you can speak to your Neighbourhood Coordinator or contact our Customer Services Team by email at direct@habinteg.org.uk or by phone on 0300 365 3100.

You can also get free advice from Citizens Advice at 0800 123 4567 or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk.

For more information, visit our website at www.habinteg.org.uk/your-rights.

************