Starter Tenancies for New Tenants

The Trust is signed up to the RESPECT standard for Housing Management and wants to use all the tools available to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour. Best practice in housing management indicates that supporting tenants in the first year of their tenancy will lead to less tenancy breaches and increase the prospect of tenants sustaining their tenancy in the long term.

Therefore, Trafford Housing Trust wishes to consult with its customers and partners over the proposal to use Starter Tenancies.

A Starter Tenancy is a type of assured tenancy that is given to new tenants and lasts for one year. Starter Tenancies make sure new tenants, their families and visitors know exactly what is expected of them if they are to be a tenant of Trafford Housing Trust. If a new tenant seriously breaches their tenancy conditions, their tenancy can be ended more easily than if they joined the Trust on a full Assured Tenancy. With the exception of existing secure and assured tenants who wish to transfer, all new tenants would be issued with a starter tenancy.

During the first year the tenancy will be monitored very closely. The Housing Officer will make two visits: the first after four weeks and the second at nine months. This is to make sure that a new tenant is keeping to the terms of the Tenancy Agreement. For example, the Housing Officer will check that the rent is being paid, the property is being looked after properly and there is no nuisance or anti-social behaviour affecting other residents. There is also the discretion to extend a starter tenancy, if it is felt that the option is appropriate.

If we receive complaints from any other residents, we will investigate and try to resolve the situation. If the situation is serious we will talk to the tenant about what steps can be taken to improve matters. A written warning will be sent together with details of what action should be taken by the tenant to resolve the problems. If there is no improvement, legal action will be taken to end the Starter Tenancy. In very serious cases, a warning may not be issued and legal action taken immediately to evict the tenant.

The decision to introduce the Starter Tenancies will be made following the consultation with our customers and partners.