Flexible tenancy
From 2012, Councils were given the power not to offer “life time” Secure Tenancies but to offer, fixed term tenancies instead, which can be as short as 2 years. After the fixed term the landlord reviews your circumstances and decides whether to give Notice to end your tenancy, offer you another fixed term tenancy, or offer you a life time, secure tenancy. Although the government encouraged Councils to use these new fixed term tenancies, many decided not to do so and to continue to offer their tenants life time security (often after the first 12 months). As a result, in 2016 the government changed the law again: Councils can now be forced to offer fixed term tenancies and sell their most valuable homes by extending the Right to Buy for Housing Association Tenants.
Housing Associations are still free to choose what type of tenancy to offer. It used to be the case that they were expected to offer tenancies with most security, but this isn’t the case anymore and more and more Housing Associations are offering Assured Shorthold Tenancies, even after the first 12 months, in the same way as private landlords do.
Non-secure tenancies
You are likely to have a None Secure Tenancy if you are living in temporary homeless accommodation provided by the Council and are waiting for an offer of accommodation. Although you have far less rights than other tenants, you still cannot be evicted without a court order.