The importance of working to sustain tenancies

Quite often people think that once a formerly homeless person is re-settled into permanent accommodation that the virtual circle of being homeless to having a home has been achieved and happy ever after begins. In fact, quite often different challenges arise for clients starting out in tenancies. Research for Glasgow Housing Association established that early tenancy termination rates stand at 25% (tenancy terminated within a year) with tenancy terminations peaking at the 3-6 month rate, though it is interesting to note that the rate of termination for ex-homeless clients and those from the housing association waiting list is similar.

There are a number of factors that can make a tenancy fail, which with careful planning can be averted. They are:

Technical and Practical Issues

Most tenants receive some guidance about the operation of their home – the heating and power at least. However, some tenants have this explained when they are viewing the property when they are unable to take the information in, or never receive any basic information or instruction at all. Many do not receive a “settling in” visit to address basic practical issues.

Financial Support

As most tenants have a limited income and no savings, they mainly rely on loans or grants or the charity of family and friends when setting up their home. Furnishing and decorating a flat can be difficult for many tenants and some quite vulnerable tenants take up a tenancy with no means of being able to make it into a ‘home’.

Housing Benefit Issues

Although arrears do not commonly lead to eviction in the early stages of a tenancy, many tenants are uncertain whether they have arrears, or have technical arrears due to gaps in Housing Benefit. Some people receive advice about Housing Benefit, others do not, and some quite vulnerable people have been evicted as a result of arrears.

Personal and Social Support

For those with mental health issues or drug or alcohol dependency issues, access to addictions workers and other support workers is very important. Tenants without an established, ongoing support issue and who do not have a support worker at the outset do not appear to have any mechanism to discuss support needs – whether practical, emotional or social.

Property Condition

Some properties are in a very poor condition when they become available for letting. This may be due to the lack of modern bathroom or kitchen facilities or due to the vandalism or squatting which sometimes takes place between tenancies. Others have more decorative defects but these can pose a major financial barrier to tenants who already have limited finances available to decorate. These factors can lead to tenancy breakdown early on if tenants (wrongly) believe these issues will be resolved.

Anti-social Behaviour and Neighbourhood Issues

ASB is a very important issue for both tenants and housing providers, accounting in part for at least half of tenancy terminations among the ex-tenants interviewed in the GHA research. Some tenants experience problems at a very early stage which leads to them failing to ever properly take up the tenancy. Others are victims of sustained and long-standing neighbour disputes or harassment. Many are too frightened to approach the police or GHA or feel the response to any logged complaint is ineffectual. Tenants are generally not aware about ASB policies and procedures or the work of the Neighbour Relations Team in particular. Often some of the above can be avoided by looking at certain aspects before they take up a tenancy offer. Specifically, we would suggest:

  1. • Checking out the area to ensure it had the facilities you need and that they would feel “safe” in such an area and that the immediate environment is safe.
  2. • Taking a friend, supporter or worker along with them to view the property so that a “snagging list” of any works that need to be completed are done and negotiating before you take up the tenancy on lead-times for works, who is responsible for re-decoration etc.
  3. • Taking photos of any such works particularly if non-completion of same could lead to health issues e.g. damp or mould
  4. • Making sure that once the tenancy is signed that the client takes the completed Housing Benefit form to the local housing office with all documentation and ensures they get a receipt
  5. • Making sure that they get the HB claim to the Housing office to meet the weekly cycle for processing. In Southwark for example, if you do not get the claim in by Monday, you can lose a week’s Housing Benefit
  6. • Remember to chase up your Housing Benefit claim as it is the tenant’s responsibility
  7. • Read the Tenant’s Handbook which sets out the responsibilities of the tenant and the provider
  8. • Keep in touch with us at the centre so we can support them in their new tenancy!


Margaret Shapland – Advice and Welfare