May I buy my home? You may qualify for the right to acquire scheme. This gives you the legal right to buy the home you currently rent.
The property you live in must have been built or purchased by the Society on or after 1st April 1997 and must have been funded using social housing grant provided by the Housing Corporation or a local authority. We can advise you if this is the case.
As well as occupying a qualifying property, you must also have been a public sector tenant for a certain time depending on when your first tenancy started. You will not be eligible if you are bankrupt or have a bankrupt petition pending against you, are the subject of a possession order served by the court or subject to a formal creditor’s agreement made under the Insolvency Act.
The discounts you would receive are fixed by the government and the amount you receive will depend on where you live. The discounts currently range from £9,000 to £16,000.
For more information regarding the right to acquire, please contact our customer services team on
01284 767224.TopA relative who was a tenant has just passed away. Do I have any rights to the property?When a tenant dies and leaves members of the family living in the property, it is possible for certain family members to succeed to the tenancy. To find out more refer to Section 6 of the
Tenants' Handbook and your tenancy agreement.
TopDo I need permission to keep pets? You are allowed to keep a small household pet, for example a hamster, budgerigar or goldfish without needing our permission.
If you are blind or partially sighted, you are allowed to keep a guide dog without needing our permission.
If your home has an individual private garden which is securely fenced, you can keep a cat or dog if you obtain written consent from us first.
TopDo I need permission to put up a shed in my garden? You will need to get written permission from your housing officer in order to be allowed to put up a shed in your garden.
TopI have noticed an empty Suffolk Housing Society property. May I have it? If you see an empty property, and wonder why no-one is living there, it may be because work is being carried out on it, or people have moved out but their tenancy has not yet ended. It may also be because someone has just left without telling us. If you suspect this may be the case, please let us know because there will always be someone who needs the property.
Otherwise, all our empty homes are let through local Choice Based Lettings schemes or Common Housing Registers, depending on the
area you want to live in.
TopWhat should I do if my bins have not been emptied? If your bins have not been emptied, please contact your local council.
TopMay I install a satellite dish or TV aerial? You may only install a satellite dish or TV aerial if you have obtained written permission from your housing officer.
TopWe have a new baby arriving and will be very tight for space. Can we have a new house? You will need to contact the relevant agency in your area to apply for a new home – see
find a home. They will advise you what will happen next. We would be grateful if you could also tell your housing officer of such changes.
TopHow much notice do I need to give to end my tenancy? When you move out, you must give one calendar month's notice to end your tenancy (unless you are exchanging your home). You must put this in writing to us or use the
moving home form provided.
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