When you die, your tenancy can pass to your partner or a family member who was living with you. This is called ‘succession’.
When one joint tenant dies, the tenancy automatically passes to the joint tenant who is still alive.
If you are a sole tenant and have no husband, wife or partner when you die, the tenancy may pass to a qualifying family member who lived with you for 12 months prior to your death. This must have been their main home.
Qualifying family members include parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews or nieces.
There can only be one succession for each tenancy. This means that if you succeeded to the tenancy, you will not be able to pass on your tenancy to someone else in this way.
If you are a family member other than a husband, wife or partner who succeeds to the tenancy, we may offer you alternative accommodation if the property:
• is too big for your current needs
• has been adapted for a disabled person to use and you are not disabled
If we agree to a succession, the original tenancy will continue and there is no need to sign a new agreement. The person who inherits your tenancy will have the same rights as you and must also pay any rent you owe.