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Types of tenancy

There are three types of tenancy - introductory, secure and demoted. If you have never been a council tenant before, you will be given an introductory tenancy.

Introductory tenancy

This tenancy is given to anyone who has not been a tenant of a council before. You have less rights than a secure tenant and it is easier for us to evict you if we need to. This type of tenancy:

• lasts for one year unless you have already successfully been an introductory tenant at another organisation immediately before your current Nottingham City Homes tenancy
• will automatically become a secure tenacy after this year unless you have breached any of your tenancy conditions
• may be extended by another six months if you breach any of the conditions - we will serve you with a notice if this is the case. Breaches of your introductory tenancy include anti-social behaviour
• may result in eviction if the breach of tenancy is very severe
• is much simpler and quicker to get a possession order than for a secure tenant. There are rights to appeal, but no opportunity to provide a defence at court.

We will always explain what action we may take. You too have the right to ask for a review of any of our decisions.

Find out more by reading our leaflets about introductory tenancies and how to request a review.

Secure tenancy

All our tenants who have successfully completed the one year (longer if it has been extended) introductory tenancy will be given a secure tenancy. This gives you more rights. It is also different from the tenancies which housing associations give (they are called assured shorthold tenancies). You:

• have exclusive right to live in your home
• cannot be evicted unless we can prove there are grounds for possession, for example, continued anti-social behaviour
• need to keep to all your tenancy conditions
• have the right to buy your home

Demoted tenancy

Your tenancy will be demoted if you have seriously breached the conditions of your secure tenancy. You will have less rights - they are similar to those of an introductory tenant. It:

• lasts for 12 months unless a notice seeking possession is served in that period
• will result in eviction if the tenancy conditions are not kept to

All these terms are explained in more detail in your tenancy agreement.