Your council tenancy agreement

As a tenant of Birmingham City Council, you must make sure you read, understand and adhere to your conditions of tenancy. The conditions of tenancy explains both yours and our rights and responsibilities.

Read the conditions of tenancy.

Types of tenancy

There are three different types of tenancy

Introductory tenancies

These are offered to new council tenants and usually last for 12 months. You do not have the same rights as a secure tenant during your introductory tenancy, for example you cannot apply for the right to buy your home or a mutual exchange.

After 12 months, you automatically become a secure tenant unless we have started action to evict you, or extended your introductory tenancy for a further 6 months if you have broken your tenancy conditions.

Secure tenancy

Unless you break the conditions of your tenancy, you can live in the property for the rest of your life as a secure tenant.

Demoted tenancy

If you have breached the conditions of your tenancy, we may demote your tenancy. This usually lasts for 12 months and gives you fewer rights than introductory or secure tenants.

After 12 months, you automatically become a secure tenant unless we have started action to evict you, or extended your introductory tenancy for a further 6 months. However, as a demoted tenant we can also end your tenancy without having to establish grounds for possession.

Tenancy breaches

It is important that you do not breach your tenancy, or we may take action to evict you.

Tenancy breaches can include:

• damaging the property
• illegal mutual exchanges
• unauthorised subletting
• misusing communal areas or gardens

Page last updated: 19 May 2023