Tenancy advice

We're here to help you in your council home. It might be your first time being a tenant. We provide an excellent tenancy assistance service to help you to settle in. It's not just a house; it's your home.

Some of the things we can help you with are:

Your tenancy agreement

• understanding your tenancy agreement
• how to be a good neighbour
• your rights and responsibilities
• safety and security within your home
• what happens if you break your tenancy agreement

Your household income

• Maximising your income
• Helping you to budget
• Referring you to other services for money advice
• Helping you to heat your home efficiently

Your tenancy mail

• Helping with any tenancy related forms or letters
• Helping to answer any questions you have about benefits

Your home and living standards

• How to get furniture or decoration for your home

Your additional needs

• Helping you to access local services or longer term housing support

Managing your tenancy through difficult circumstances

• relationship breakdown
• bereavement
• major life crisis

Help with your tenancy is a free service available to all our tenants. Your housing management officer (HMO) can help with this. It isn’t just restricted to the examples above; it's decided by you and what you require. Your HMO will arrange to meet you at your home. This is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

It may be that you need more specialised housing support. We can refer you for Short Term Housing Support for up to two years.

We want to make sure you feel settled and enjoy a good quality of life in your home.  We will visit you within four to six weeks of moving into your home. Hopefully you'll be settling in well.

‘A smart start to housing’ is a useful guide, designed to prepare you for a new home with us. Please refer to the 'publications' at the bottom of the page.

Further advice and assistance

Furnishing your home - see alternative sources of support.

Budgeting - You may have multiple debts or are struggling to budget. We can refer you to CARF (Citizens Advice Rights Fife) for advice. Our Welfare and Benefits section also has some great advice on food banks and living on a budget.

Let’s keep you connected - Why not attend a digital skills class? We are starting to do even more online.  Whatever your level of knowledge or requirements, we can help. You can access computers at many different places throughout Fife:

• your local library
• your local job centre
• at Job Clubs

Overcrowding or under occupation – If your circumstances have changed, we need to know. You can click on this link to complete a Housing Options form. We also offer interviews at any customer service centre.

Noise and Neighbour issues – You shouldn't have to put up with these issues. Please see the Safer Communities section for more information. It will tell you how to report any incidents.

We want you to take pride in your home and make it your own. If you want to make changes to your home or garden, you must request a permission pack. You can get these at your local Customer Service Centre.

We may need to grant permission with special conditions if needed. We will not refuse your request without a good reason. It’s important that you get written permission from us, to make sure the work is being done to an agreed standard. Please do not carry out any work without this.

Please see the 'Alterations and adaptations to your property' section of our repairs page for more information. This will you give examples of alterations that would need permission.

Tenants who are part of our garden care scheme get their gardens maintained by us. It's open to any of our tenants if they meet the conditions below.

To join the scheme you should be:

• Over the age of 60, or
• Registered as disabled and in receipt of higher rate Disability Living Allowance. It needs to be both care and mobility components, or
• In receipt of Personal Independence Payment. You must receive either the enhanced mobility or enhanced daily living components.

You must also have no other person over 16 years old that can cut the grass and hedge for you.

If you don’t meet the above conditions, we may still be able to help. Some tenants can't manage their garden because of chronic ill health.

You can apply through your customer service centre. You should bring the following proofs:

• proof of age - Myfife card or photo driving licence
• Disability Living Allowance, or
• Personal Independence Payment

We don't need your payment when you first apply.

Standards of Service:

In a normal season, you can expect:

• grass cut every two weeks, weather permitting. We cut up to 500 square meters, for example 25 meters by 20 meters
• hedge cut on two occasions, weather permitting
  • once in June or July
  • once in September or October
• application of chemical weedkiller, if you want it. Weeds are sprayed but not removed.

Those who join the scheme after the date on the acceptance letter will receive fewer cuts.

You may find it hard to heat your home. The free Cosy Kingdom energy advice service can help you and your family keep warm and save money.

Heat can easily escape from your home. It could be through seals in your windows or doors. Gas and electricity costs are rising too. Trying to keep your home warm can be a worry.

Cosy Kingdom may be able to help. They are a free service, open to all tenants and homeowners. It has already helped over 5,000 Fifers – why not join them?

Please contact them on 01592 858458 or email them at  info@cosykingdom.org.uk.

You can also request a Cosy Kingdom home energy visit. Please complete the attached "Do it On-line" e-form: Cosy Kingdom Referral Form .

Switching Energy Supplier

It’s worth shopping around to find a cheaper deal for your gas and electricity.  Citrus Energy can carry out an energy supplier comparison and switch for you. Please contact Citrus Energy on 0800 221 8089 for more information.

Smart Meter

Your energy supplier may have already contacted you about fitting smart meters. It's not something you have to do. It offers the following benefits though:

• No more manual meter readings
• No more estimated bills

The meter will show you how much energy you are using. It will also give you the cost of that energy.  This could help you to make small changes in your energy use.

How much does it cost to leave on lights? How much does your usual washing machine cycle cost to run? A smart meter can tell you that.

For more information, please see the Smart Meters Fact-sheet.

National Assistance Schemes

Winter Fuel Payment – Only some people will be eligible for this, however it's open to all owners and tenants. For further information, please see Winter Fuel Payment.

Cold weather payment – Again, only some people will be eligible for this. It will be paid automatically with any benefits you receive. There's no need to apply. For further information, please see Cold Weather Payment.

Warm homes discount scheme – Energy suppliers often provide a yearly money back service to certain customers. If you receive the credit element of Pension Credit, you're likely to get it. Others who are on a low income or in receipt of certain means-tested benefits may also be eligible. For further information, please see Warm Home Discount.

If you find it difficult to pay your bill, speak to your energy supplier.  Some companies have trust funds to help customers. Their staff can advise you how apply for this.

Your energy supplier can also tell you about their 'Priority Services Register'
Services. This includes:

• the option of having bills in Braille or large-print text
• being notified of planned power outages
• assistance with cooking and heating facilities if your energy supply is interrupted

Contact your Energy supplier to find out full details of what they can offer to help you.

How can you help to reduce your energy bills?

Keeping Warm

• Aim for 21°C (70°F) in your main living area. We suggest a temperature of 23°C if you're classed as vulnerable. 18°C (65°F) is an ideal temperature for elsewhere in your home
• Avoid covering radiators, vents or heaters. This can restrict the heat and is dangerous
• Regular servicing and cleaning helps keep a heating system working. If a system is old (over 15 years), it may need replaced
• Switch your heating off in the summer if you can
• Wearing a number of layers of thin clothing will keep you warmer than one thick layer
• Don't use an oven to heat the kitchen
• Insulate!
  • Up to 33% of heat can be lost through walls
  • up to 25% can be lost through a roof/loft
  • up to 20% can be lost through ventilation and draughts.

Running Water

• Use a shower if you can. Showers use only two-fifths of the hot water needed for a bath
• Overfilling a bath can waste hot water

Lighting

• Use energy efficient bulbs
• If you're leaving a room, turn the lights off

Equipment

• Equipment left on standby is still using electricity. Switch them off at the plug where possible.
• Don't put a fridge/freezer next to a heat source. It'll have to work harder to keep cool.

You will be offered a Short Scottish Secure Tenancy (SSST) if you (or a member of your family):

• have received an ASBO
• have been previously evicted for anti-social behaviour and have now been offered a house by us
• are moving to the area for employment
• have been evicted for rent arrears and are now receiving help from the Housing Support Service
• live in temporary accommodation (for example, if you are homeless)

What does the Short Scottish Secure Tenancy mean to you?

In most cases, your tenancy will be for a six-month period. This can be extend for another six months. If there's no issues after that, you'll be given a Scottish Secure Tenancy.

Your rights are slightly different if you're in a SSST:

• You'll not have the right to buy your home
• There is no 'rights of succession' for any adult living with you. This means no one else living in your home can take over the tenancy
• If you're newly working in the area, you'll not convert to a full tenancy. You can continue for six-month tenancy periods, however.

Can you appeal against our decision?

You can take legal advice from your own solicitor or speak to Citizen's Advice if you're not happy with our decision.

Due to service disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, please be aware that as a non-essential service there could be significant delays in dealing with approvals and updates of mutual exchanges.

It's worth thinking about a 'home swap' if you're looking to move house. A swap can help you move quickly. It also gives you control in deciding where you stay. Someone you know may be looking to move to a smaller home; you, on the other hand, need somewhere bigger. A mutual exchange would mean neither of you need to go back on the FHR list. You would swap homes and each takes up the new tenancy.

There's lots of different options available to you, if you fit the criteria below:

• Fife council tenant
• Tenant of another local authority
• Tenant of a housing association

All tenants involved must have a Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement.

Swaps are not limited to just two households; mutual exchange 'chains' can be done. This is when three or more homes are involved in the swap.

You must request your mutual exchange in writing. You can do this:

• by paper application form - this is available at your nearest Customer Service Centre. It can also be printed from the publication list below
• by requesting your exchange online, if you're a  Fife council tenant
• through your online account.

All mutual exchange requests will be considered, however some rules do apply. Your rent should be up to date and your home kept in good order. Normally we will refuse mutual exchange applications where:

• a notice for eviction has been served on you or the person you are swapping with.
• an eviction order is in place
• there are rent arrears or outstanding recharges
• the house has been designed or adapted for someone with specific needs
• the exchange would result in under-occupation (too many bedrooms)
• the exchange would result in overcrowding (not enough bedrooms)
• you're not a secure tenant
• you or the person you're swapping with has a Short Scottish Secure Tenancy (SSST)
• if the inside of the properties are not to a reasonable standard for both tenants

How can I find someone to exchange with?

Home Swap is our online match up service. It can be used by our tenants and joint tenants. Most of the FHR housing associations are also signed up:

• Fife Housing Association
• Glen Housing Association
• Kingdom Housing Association
• Ochil View Housing Association
• Ore Valley Housing Association.

Home Swap allows you to register your details and search for other tenants who are looking to exchange. Home Swap is available here:

It may be that you already know who you want to swap with, through speaking with friends.

There's also support if you want to move outside Fife. We suggest contacting the council or a housing association based in the area you're looking to move to. They will give you information on how to register your details locally with them. They may also recommend an external or national mutual exchange website.

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions available below, to find out more. If you need to contact us, please by email housing.allocations@fife.gov.uk