Letter ruined New Year and I'm in tears (stupid).

[Player456]

I've lived with my husband for 12 years, since we married, along with our 11 year old.

He lives in a HA property (formerly council) and has lived here for 25 years.

Please no bashing of HA tenants

A while back our neighbourhood officer came to visit (routine). He mentioned to DH that I should be put on tenancy, but Covid hit soon after,, so we forgot.

Recently we had resident liaison officer come with some surveyors about work that needed to be done. She suggested that DH put me on the tenancy as it would be beneficial for works going forward and was a simple process.

She sent the form, then phoned me to check I'd sent it back. It was a simple formality she said, I would just need to attend to sign with someone

This was a couple of months ago.

Today we received a letter from the neighbourhood manager (same one who attended in past and said my name should be added to tenancy).

The letter states that they "cannot process it due to a policy review
for sole to joint tenancy, we not under any obligation to add other people to a tenancy".

Sounds straight forward? Well no, it's bullshit. There is no added guidance for this ''review' and having just looked on their website, it clearly states that if you marry or want to add someone to your tenancy you just fill in the form and they are assigned to the tenancy.

I understand that no one reading this will understand why I'm so upset (I do have bipolar and following two deaths in my family in the last year, my MH is already at breaking point).

I feel I've been lied to. The liaison officer said it was just a formality. The man who refused us himself said it was easy, just fill in a form.

I know 'theoretically' it changes nothing, except that if DH dies, DD and me will be immediately homeless - which burns as I gave up my own HA house when we married, I should have kept it and lived apart!

I have the CEO's email, I used it before when we had some problems regarding works.

There is no explanation at all, nowhere does it mention policy review on their website, in fact they highlight how easy it is to add someone...so I feel so rejected, useless, unwanted.

We cannot contact them - they are closed till 5th January and the letter is dated 3rd December, so was deliberately held back from posting so we would receive it when they were closed.

There's information on tenancy rights here. Hope this helps

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/council_housing_association/can_you_inherit_a_housing_association_tenancy

@04Anammelech I can easily prove this through medical records, CB etc, plus bills (I pay water and Council Tax).

Interestingly Shelter have just told me that a secure tenant cannot assign to the other tenant, therefore when became sole tenant it cannot be counted as a succession , which is different to which I've been told (he was already a tenant, his rights protected, so his wife being taken off didn't count as succession as he was already a secure tenant ).

@Squills cross posted, thank you though.

Sounds like rubbish admin. You’ll probably receive a letter in a few days time saying they’ve added you to the tenancy.
Just write back and query it.

Tenancies can only be succeeded once. So if it has already been changed from a joint to a sole tenancy, it can't be changed again.

What your HO should have advised was that your husband gets you added to the account as a resident and delegated authority so they can discuss rent, repairs etc with you.

[quote Player456]@04Anammelech I can easily prove this through medical records, CB etc, plus bills (I pay water and Council Tax).

Interestingly Shelter have just told me that a secure tenant cannot assign to the other tenant, therefore when became sole tenant it cannot be counted as a succession , which is different to which I've been told (he was already a tenant, his rights protected, so his wife being taken off didn't count as succession as he was already a secure tenant ).[/quote]
Hold onto your council tax/rent bills receipts and statements.

I'd advise your husband to find his tenancy agreement and then set up a call/meeting with the resident liaison officer. It's your husband who will need to do the legwork if he wishes to add you to the tenancy.

The information on Shelter is correct; however, housing associations and councils have lots of clauses and policies around tenancy agreements.

It’s annoying but it should be sortable, so put it out of your mind till Tuesday.

I’d go to CAB - not because you wouldn’t be able to sort it out, but they might sort it out quicker and will make you feel supported. (Or if there’s an HA residents’ organisation then that’s even better.)

It seems like they're saying they can't process the application at the moment because they are doing a policy review. You need more information before you get yourself wound up.

Player456 I don't want to kick you when you are down, but are you absolutely positive that your partner wants you on the tenancy? Has he filled out the form?

OP i just want ti say i understand this is upsetting and horrible to go through but i think legally you are okay and safe? I don't think you have lost any rights but i am not sure for definite, i just wanted to say that i am also bipolar and would find this extremely stressful and upsetting. I think maybe getting in touch with shelter or somewhere might give you a caseworker who could speak to them for you which may help you? I am trying to be useful but really just could not read and run and wanted to offer a handhold . All the best to you x

You don't need to be on the tenancy to have rights. As long as you have a record of your occupancy (your name on utility bills and/or the Council Tax) then you have a right to remain if your DH was to die. You won't be made homeless.

@Thelnebriati Lol, I'm paranoid enough to worry about that! He filled in the form, we both signed it, I put it in the envelope and took it in, the fact they replied saying no would also prove it

Thanks all, after speaking to Shelter I feel more at ease. The man who sent the letter is the one who took my number (which is how they have my number), as he took names of all people living here (had to show our passports, including DDs). Makes me wonder if someone else has said that we're not meant to be here, as he went and checked every room, then checked our ID (said it was routine).

Thank you all.