Tenant News
Information you will need to know Mutual exchanges and paying for gas safety checks… Linc is obliged by law to allow Secure Tenants to exchange their tenancy with another tenant living in a property owned by a social landlord (Local Authority or Housing Association) and under The Guarantee for Housing Association Residents (published by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2010) the same right is afforded to Assured Tenants. Linc Tenancy Agreements reflect this and the Tenants Handbook provides detail on pages 87-88 as to how this is dealt with. Whilst supporting the right of tenants to a “Mutual Exchange” we must recognise that there are differing reasons for an exchange, and for each exchange there are costs involved both for tenants and for Linc. Linc is obliged by law to carry out a safety check on the electricity and gas installations when a new household moves in. Tenants wish to exchange for a variety of reasons, including personal choice. There is a cost to Linc associated with each move and Linc thinks this should be borne by the outgoing tenant. A policy decision was taken in May 2013 to pass the cost of the safety checks on to the outgoing tenant, except in exceptional circumstances or where a tenant’s income has been reduced due to welfare reform changes. The cost of the safety checks which are payable in advance is:Electricity – £83.58 Gas – £ 19.28 We will undertake a review of this policy in six months to look at how it is working and any resulting consequences. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns freephone 0800 072 0966 or email contact.centre@linc-cymru.co.uk
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