Succession Tenancies

On the death of a tenant, the tenancy may be transferred to the tenant’s partner/spouse or to a member of the tenant’s immediate family normally resident in the dwelling at the date of the tenant’s death.  In determining whether or not the tenant’s immediate family was normally resident in the dwelling on the date of the tenant’s death, details included on the previous Rent Assessments will be taken into account.  It is a requirement that the details in relation to all persons residing in a housing authority property are declared to the authority and that the rent account is re-assessed to reflect the additional member of the household residing in the accommodation. The entitlement to make an application for a succession of tenancy will not apply where the housing authority is satisfied that the applicant for succession deliberately took up occupancy in the dwelling for the sole purpose of obtaining tenancy in these circumstances.  The housing authority will make whatever enquiries are necessary to verify any particulars furnished in support of an application for succession.

Under some circumstances where succession is being considered, the housing authority may require the family member to move to another property if it considers the property to be too large or the property has been designed or adapted for the use of someone with a disability who no longer resides in the property.   No succession to the tenancy will be considered where the property has been designated as an Older Persons Dwelling (and where the person applying for succession is not an elderly person) save in exceptional circumstances.