As a Highland Council tenant, you will have signed a lease for your home. This lease forms a contract between us as your landlord and you as the tenant and sets out terms and conditions of your tenancy. If you want to know more about either your or the Council’s rights and responsibilities, check the details of your lease. However, if you have any questions, you can contact us directly or you can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Advice Agency or a solicitor. We also provide leaflets on a number of topics which may be of interest to you. You will find these in any Service Point or nearest Housing and Property Office.
Complaints
We aim to provide an efficient, prompt and courteous service at all times. However, if you are unhappy about the service you have received or the way you have been treated, you can bring this to our attention using The Highland Council Complaints and Enquiries Procedure. There is a Complaints and Enquiries form which is available at all Service Points and Housing Offices. You can also make a complaint by writing, telephoning or calling in person at any Council Office.
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Access to Information
The Council holds certain information relating to your tenancy and housing application. This is held in writing and electronically. You have the right to see the information that is held about you. For further details see our leaflet on Access to Information and Data Protection.
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Succession
If a Council tenant dies, the following people may be eligible to succeed to the tenancy provided that the house was their only or principal home:
- husband, wife or partner or
- a joint tenant.
If neither of the above are eligible the tenancy may be inherited by another member of the family as long as he or she is aged at least 16 years and the house is their only or principal home.
In some cases a carer may be eligible to inherit the tenancy of the house.
Contact your local Housing Office to discuss a succession to tenancy. You may also wish to take advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Advice Agency or a solicitor.
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Getting Permission
Before you do certain things that affect your tenancy or property you need to get permission from the Council. If we do not give permission we will give you reasons why. The following are situations where you require permission.
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Taking a Lodger or Sub-letting your home
If you want to take in a lodger or sub-let part or all of your home, you should contact us and we will send you a form to fill in. We want to know details of who you intend to sub-let to or take as a lodger, and the rent to be charged. You must get our written permission before you can go ahead. As the tenant you will still be responsible for maintaining the property in good condition and for paying the rent. Permission to sub-let or take in a lodger will not usually be withheld unless there is good reason to do so.
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Running a Business
You must apply to us in writing if you want to run a business from your house. We will want to know what kind of business you plan to run. We will take into consideration whether your business will cause disturbance to your neighbours, e.g. from noise, parking of additional vehicles, etc.
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Alterations and Improvements
You must contact us if you want to make any alterations or improvements to your house, and we will give you a form to fill in. You must get our written permission before you begin. These alterations/improvements can include:
- Altering, improving, or enlarging the house, or its fixtures or fittings
- Adding new fixtures or fittings (for example kitchen or bathroom installations, central heating or other fixed heaters, double glazing or any kind of external aerial or satellite dish).
- Putting up a garage, shed or other structure.
- Decorating the outside of the house.
We will not refuse permission unreasonably, but we may apply some conditions regarding the standard of work and who does the work. You may be entitled to some compensation for certain improvements at the end of your tenancy. Please see the Scottish Executive’s leaflet on Compensation for Improvement which is available from all Service Points and Housing Offices and from a weblink on the main Repairs page.
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Changes in circumstances
If you are a Highland Council tenant, it is important that you keep us up to date with any changes in your household, such as a new baby, or new partner or in your employment status - this will allow us to keep our records up-to-date and give you the best information and advice about things like Housing and Council Tax Benefit and other welfare benefits. You can either print it out and fill it in, then post it back to your local housing office (hyperlink to Housing & Property Offices details page) or e-mail it back to us at housingandproperty@highland.gov.uk”
For more information, please e-mail: housingandproperty@highland.gov.uk
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