Change of Family Circumstances
At some stage during your tenancy, your family situation may change and you may want to change your tenancy agreement.
If you have a sole tenancy and want a partner, civil partner or spouse to become a joint tenant.
If you were single when you started your tenancy, your husband, wife or civil partner will have some legal rights in your home, even if they are not joint tenants.
If you’d like them to become joint tenants, you’ll need to sign a new tenancy agreement with your housing officer. To do this you must supply:
- your marriage or civil partnership certificate
- proof of identity for your spouse or civil partner, and
- details of employment, income and savings for both of you, as these may affect any benefits you get.
If you want your partner to become a joint tenant - and you’re not married to them or in a civil partnership - you need to provide us with their full name and date of birth and employment and income details.
We will normally allow them to become a joint tenant if:
- they can prove they have lived with you for at least 12 months
- they do not have a tenancy elsewhere
- the Wandle home is their only or main home.
We cannot change a tenancy if you have rent arrears or we are taking legal action against you.
If you have a sole tenancy and want a family member or a carer to become a joint tenant.
Our decision will depend on your family’s circumstances and needs.
Other household changes
Please let us know when a child is born or joins the family after the start of your tenancy.
When children in the household reach the age of 18 (or 19 if in full-time education) they become known as ‘non dependants’ for benefit purposes. If you get Housing Benefit, you must tell the Housing Benefit office. They may reduce your benefit, depending on the non-dependants’ circumstances. Please ask your income officer for advice. Also see your Tenancy Handbook: Section 5: Rents and benefits.
