Changes to Succession

New laws this year that change tenants’ rights include a change to the process around succession, where someone takes over a tenancy after the tenant dies. Prospect tenants have the right to pass their tenancy to someone who is living with them when they die. This could be an unmarried partner, family member or carer. It recognises that someone may have given up their home to care for the tenant prior to their death.

If the succeeding person is not a lawful spouse or civil partner, they must now have lived there for at least 6 months before the death, and this must be their only and principal home. The tenant needs to have told Prospect in writing about this person either by letter or in an email. The 6 month qualifying period only starts from when written notification has been received so it is very important that tenants keep their household details updated and make sure that Prospect knows about anyone they want to succeed the tenancy. If someone has moved in and this information has not been sent to Prospect, it may affect the right to succeed the tenancy.