Joint tenancy

You can apply for a joint tenancy at any time if you’re married or in a registered civil partnership. You can also apply as a cohabiting couple but you must have lived together at the property for at least 12 months

If you are considering ending a joint tenancy to remove other tenants from a tenancy agreement, we strongly advise you to contact us for advice due to the implications it could have for your housing situation. You may also want to get independent or legal advice. Ending a joint tenancy is otherwise the same as ending a sole tenancy.

Advantages of a joint tenancy

1. All joint tenants have security of tenure, which ensures eviction can only happen lawfully.
2. May help meet the costs of the tenancy such as the rent.
3. May be easier for joint tenants to access credit.
4. If a joint tenant dies the other tenant(s) have a right to succeed to the tenancy once.

Disadvantages of a joint tenancy

1. If a joint tenant does not pay rent or other money owed, the other joint tenant(s) are responsible for the debt.
2. One joint tenant can decide to end the whole tenancy without the agreement of other joint tenants. In these circumstances there is no guarantee that we will give any of the joint tenants a new tenancy on the same property, because it may be more appropriate for that property to be offered to someone else. The former joint tenants may have to use Home Choice to bid for new property.
3. To exchange the property, all joint tenants must agree. If a joint tenant is absent and cannot be traced then no exchange can go ahead.
4. Benefit entitlements may be different for joint tenants.

Apply for a joint tenancy

Complete and return this form.

If you are already a sole tenant then to apply you must:

1. Have no rent arrears and
2. Have lived together at the property for at least 12 months, unless you are married or in a civil partnership.

Contact us

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