Rural Housing Association - Tenants Handbook

You should have received a handbook when you first moved into your home. It contains important information about your tenancy, rights and responsibilities and the services we provide.

Below is a summary of the information contained in the handbook:

:: Making yourself at home
:: Rent and benefits
:: Keeping your home in good repair
:: Your rights explained
:: Living with your neighbours
:: Getting involved
:: Moving on

:: Making yourself at home

The handbook provides useful information for new tenants just moving in. It includes useful information about:

- Letting people know you’ve moved.
- Safety and security in the home.
- Pets.
- Making a complaint.

:: Rent and benefits

It is very important that you pay your rent on time. Our staff are here to help and advise you if you are having problems paying your rent. The handbook includes details on:

- When and how much rent to pay.
- Ways to pay your rent.
- Claiming Housing Benefit.
- What to do if you are having problems.
- RHA's policy on rent arrears.

:: Keeping your home in good repair

We aim to provide a high quality repair service. It contains information about:

- How to report repairs.
- Which repairs that are RHA's responsibility.
- Which repairs that are your responsibility.
- How quickly we aim to respond to different types of repairs.

:: Your rights explained

As a tenant you have many rights. You also have some important responsibilities in connection with your tenancy. The handbook includes information on the following rights and responsibilities:

- Joint tenancies.
- Transferring your tenancy.
- Taking in lodgers and sub-letting.
- Your right to information.

:: Living with your neighbours

We expect all tenants to show consideration and respect towards their neighbours. The handbook contains important information about:

- How to avoid nuisance.
- What to do if you suffer from nuisance.
- What RHA can and cannot do to help.
- How we will tackle harassment.
- Help for people suffering domestic violence.

:: Getting involved

We are committed to ensuring that you have a real opportunity to influence decisions which affect your homes. Your views help us to develop and improve the services we provide. Inside the handbook you will find information on:

- Your right to be consulted.
- How we will consult you.
- Ways to get involved.

:: Moving on

We recognise that your circumstances will change over time and that you may need to move from your current home. Depending on your circumstances, we may be able to help you. The handbook contains information about:

- Applying to transfer to another property with RHA.
- Doing a mutual exchange.
- Ending your tenancy.