Information about the different tenancies we have in Bristol.

You can find out what kind of tenancy you have on your tenancy agreement.

Introductory tenancy

We’ll give you an introductory tenancy when you first become a Bristol City Council tenant, unless you’ve previously been a secure tenant with a housing association. An introductory tenancy lasts for 12 months and is known as the trial period.

Your rights and responsibilities are set out in your Tenancy Agreement. 
They're very similar to those of secure tenants, but you can’t:

  • take in lodgers
  • sublet part of your home
  • make major improvements to your property
  • exchange your property with another council tenant or housing association tenant
  • buy your property using the Right to Buy scheme

Secure tenancy

You’ll become a secure tenant if you don’t break the tenancy agreement rules during your 12 month trial period.

If you do break the rules of your tenancy agreement, we may extend your introductory tenancy by six months or end your tenancy.

Once you’re a secure tenant, you’ll have the full rights of a tenant. Your rights and responsibilities are set out in your Tenancy Agreement.