Tenancy Changes

Relationship Break-Up

Joint tenants have equal rights to remain in the home but either one may end their part of the tenancy. We may transfer the tenancy to the remaining partner.
If you are not joint tenants, the person whose name is on the Tenancy Agreement has the right to ask their partner to leave. However, if the partner wants to stay, a court may have to decide whether they can stay.
If a sole tenant leaves the home, the remaining husband or wife has the right to stay but an unmarried partner may have to go to court to find out whether he or she can stay.
If you have children living with you, a court will normally put their interests first to make sure they do not become homeless. The court will usually transfer the tenancy to the parent with the main responsibility for the children.
If you are threatened with, or are the victim of, abuse from a member of your household or ex-partner, contact the Corporate Services team. They will put you in touch with a Tenancy Services Officer or Cherwell District Council's Homelessness section or the Domestic Violence Unit at your local Police Station.

Act quickly to protect your rights. If you are worried, contact a Tenancy Services Officer via 0845 009 2500 to discuss the matter in confidence.

You must let us know if anyone moves into, or out of, your home on a permanent basis.

A joint tenancy is when two or more adults are named in the Tenancy Agreement.
Each tenant is jointly and individually responsible for the tenancy. This means that each tenant is responsible for the full rent being paid, and if one tenant breaches the agreement, the other can aslo be held responsible.
If you want someone living with you to become a joint tenant with you, you must write to us to request our permission. If you are not married, you must have lived together for at least 12 months.
The tenancy can be ended by either of the joint tenants giving us 4 weeks notice. We may grant a new tenancy to the remaining tenant.

When a tenant dies, any joint tenant or a wife, husband or partner (married or unmarried and including same sex partners), can take over the tenancy. This is called a succession and the person who takes over the tenancy is called the successor.
If there is no joint tenant, wife, husband or partner, we may agree to another member of the family or a carer taking over the tenancy provided they have been living in the home for at least 12 months up to the death.
The law allows for a tenancy to be handed on only once on the basis of succession. However, if you were a tenant when Cherwell District Council homes were taken over by Charter, you can hand over your tenancy one more time.

You may be able to hand on on your tenancy to a potential successor before you die. This is called assignment. You must contact us to apply for permission to assign your home.