Your tenancy agreement is a legal contract between you and Oxford City Council. It explains your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, and what you can expect from us.
Download an example tenancy agreement
You should take the time to read your agreement and keep it somewhere safe for future reference.
Types of tenancy
Most council tenants will have an introductory tenancy when they first move in and will become a secure tenant after 12 months if there are no problems with the tenancy.
Introductory tenancy
You will usually have an introductory tenancy if you:
- are renting a council home from us for the first time
- previously rented from a private landlord
- have had a break since renting from a council or housing association
An introductory tenancy normally lasts 12 months.
You will usually become a secure tenant at the end of the year as long as you do not breach your tenancy agreement.
With an introductory tenancy, some of your rights are limited. For example:
- you can’t buy your home through Right to Buy
- you can’t exchange homes with another tenant
- you can’t sublet your home
We can also end an introductory tenancy more easily than a secure tenancy.
Secure tenancy
Most tenants become secure tenants after successfully completing their introductory tenancy for a year.
You may also be given a secure tenancy from the start if you move directly from another council or housing association tenancy.
With a secure tenancy, you have more rights. For example:
- you can stay in your home for as long as you want, provided you keep to the terms of your tenancy agreement
- you can’t be forced to leave your home except by a court order
- you may be able to buy your home through the Right to Buy scheme (with certain exceptions for specialist housing)
- you may be able to pass your tenancy on to someone else living with you when you die, depending on the date your tenancy started
Demoted tenancy
If we need to take you to court because you do not keep to the terms of your tenancy agreement, we may apply to change your secure tenancy to a demoted tenancy.
You will not have to leave your home, but you may lose some of the rights that come with a secure tenancy.
For example, you may lose the right to:
- buy your home
- exchange homes with another tenant
- pass your tenancy on to someone else
If there are no further problems during the demotion period, your tenancy may return to a secure tenancy.
If you break your tenancy agreement
You must keep to the conditions set out in your tenancy agreement.
If you break any of the conditions, we may take legal action against you. Depending on the circumstances, we may:
- apply to the court to make you leave the property
- ask the court to change a secure tenancy to a demoted tenancy
