Joint tenancies

Apply for a joint tenancy

Who can apply for a joint tenancy

You can apply for a joint tenancy with your:

  • spouse
  • civil partner
  • cohabiting partner

You must provide proof of marriage or civil partnership. If you are cohabiting, you must have been living together at the property for at least 12 months.

If you already have a tenancy, applying for a joint tenancy will end it. The standard 4 week notice period applies. You can change your mind about the joint tenancy within this period. If you are happy to proceed, we will then set up a new joint tenancy. If you decide not to proceed, you can continue with your original tenancy.

If you are making a new application, you must make it clear on your application that you want a joint tenancy.

Joint tenancy application form.

What to give to the council

You will need:

  • ID for the person being added to the tenancy, for example, passport or driving licence
  • proof of marriage or civil partnership

Evidence that you are either a:

  • British citizen (including Irish nationals), or
  • a foreign national with right to reside

If you are a foreign national, you will need proof of your immigration status, such as visas or your EU settled status.

We accept:

  • photos
  • a scanned digital copy
  • photocopies

You can post these to us or email them to the contact centre. The information you will need to do this is on the application form.

The contact centre will check the information you have submitted. If you have not supplied all the necessary information, they will ask you to do this by email. They will give you a deadline.

How long the process takes

The time for this process to be completed varies. It could take a few months. The 4 week notice period starts from the date the joint tenancy application is approved.

What are the reasons a joint tenancy may be refused?

Joint tenancy is not a legal right. There are reasons we could refuse you a joint tenancy:

  • you are not spouses, civil partners or cohabiting partners
  • one person does not have the right to live in the UK or is not entitled to benefits
  • the existing tenancy was obtained by succession (when one person becomes the sole tenant after the death of a joint tenant), or assignment (when the tenancy has transferred from one person to another in the household)
  • it breaches tenancy conditions, for example, anti-social behaviour
  • you have housing-related debt
  • the proposed joint tenant is not eligible - for example, they are aged 17 years or under
  • either person has a history of unacceptable behaviour
  • granting joint tenancy would make the property overcrowded

Is there a right of appeal if the application is refused?

You have a right to appeal if your application is refused. The housing manager will consider requests to review or challenge the decision.

Page last updated: 22 February 2023

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