There are many different types of tenancy and your housing rights depend on the kind you have. If you receive a written tenancy agreement from your landlord, it should say what sort of tenancy you have.
The law about tenancies is complicated and you may need to get advice if you are not sure what type of tenancy you have. What follows is only a basic guide to the most common tenancies.
Private tenants
If you rent from a private landlord, your housing rights will depend on three factors:
- Whether or not you pay rent and have the right to occupy the accommodation as your own
- Whether or not you share where you live with your landlord
- The date you moved into the property
Most tenants who don’t share with their landlords have ‘assured shorthold tenancies’ but not all do. For instance, if you moved into your property before 15th January 1989, you may be a ‘regulated tenant’ and if you moved into your home after 15th January 1989 you could be an ‘assured tenant’. You will have different rights to stay in your property depending upon your tenancy status. If you are unclear about your rights to stay in your property, get advice.
Shelter’s website has more information about the different tenancies for private tenants.
Council tenants and Housing Association tenants
If you rent from Manchester City Council you will be given an Introductory Tenancy for the first twelve months. As an Introductory tenant you have fewer legal rights than other council tenants for the first year of your tenancy. After that, if you keep to the terms of your tenancy agreement, you will usually be given a Secure tenancy.
If you are a Housing Association tenant your type of tenancy will probably depend upon the date you were given it. If you took your tenancy before 15th January 1989, you are probably a Secure tenant. If your tenancy began after this date you are probably an Assured tenant or an Assured Shorthold tenant.
If you are unclear about your status as a tenant, get advice. You can find more information about Council and Housing Association tenancies (known as Public Sector tenancies) on Adviceguide’s website (Citizens Advice).
Other types of occupiers
Not all occupiers of accommodation are tenants. Some people have very few rights to stay in their home if the person who owns the property wants them to leave. Examples include:
- people who share accommodation with their landlord or a member or their landlord’s family
- people who pay no rent
- asylum seekers who are living in accommodation provided through NASS
- people who live in Local Authority run hostels
- people staying in holiday lets
This area of housing law is complicated so if you fall into one of these groups get advice.
For more information, select one of the links below:
Information on other websites
Youth Information
The difference between tenancies and licensees
and rights as a lodger
Shelter
Occupiers with ‘basic protection' (such as students in halls of residence),
‘Excluded occupiers' (such as people staying in holiday lets and lodgers), and
Subtenants
Age Concern
General information about tenancies
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email
Information Provider:
Manchester Advice
Date Reviewed:
28 October 2008
This information is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement on the law. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
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