Somerset Council tenancy agreement consultation 2026

Overview

Have your say on the proposed new Tenancy Agreement 

Somerset Council and Homes in Somerset are asking our current tenants for their views about a proposed new Tenancy Agreement for council homes across Somerset.  

The Tenancy Agreement is the legal contract between tenants and Somerset Council. It explains tenant rights and responsibilities, and the council’s responsibilities as a landlord.

Homes in Somerset manages tenant homes and provides housing services on the council’s behalf. 

At the moment, different tenancy agreements are used across Somerset. We are proposing one agreement for everyone, to ensure our tenants are treated fairly and our policies are applied consistently.

The new agreement will be clearer, meet current legal and regulatory requirements, support good landlord services and reflect how we deliver services today.  We are now asking our tenants for your views on the proposed tenancy agreement to help us shape it. 

The new tenancy agreement is not intended to remove or reduce the core legal rights of existing tenants. Existing rights relating to repairs, security of tenure, succession, consultation and complaints will remain in place.  

What changes are being proposed? 

The proposed agreement brings information together in clearer sections and explains important responsibilities in more detail. The review has looked at a wide range of areas including: 

• Tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities 
• Access for repairs, safety inspections and compliance checks 
• Looking after homes and shared areas 
• Service standards and landlord responsibilities 
• Rent and service charge arrangements 
• Moving towards consistent weekly rent payments throughout the year, without offering payment holidays over the Christmas period across Somerset

Related documents

You can read the related documents by clicking the links below or by visiting the Homes in Somerset website. 

• The proposed new Tenancy Agreement 
• Summary of changes in the proposed new Tenancy Agreement
• Detailed list of the proposed changes clause-by-clause if your tenancy agreement was issued by Somerset Council 
• Detailed list of the proposed changes clause-by-clause if your tenancy agreement was issued by Homes in Somerset 

How to have your say 

The consultation is open from Monday 9 November 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027.

We would love to hear what our tenants think about the proposed changes, including what you support, any concerns or suggestions you have, and how the changes could affect you or your household. 

Need help completing this consultation?

If you need help to complete this consultation, please email customer.services@homesinsomerset.org or call 0800 585 360 or 01278 552400.

More information

To view your current tenancy agreement for comparison, visit Homes in Somerset website.

Frequently asked questions