My Tenancy

General Needs homes are for people who are eligible for social housing, but don’t have additional support needs. Our experienced Tenancy Team support people to maintain their tenancies, and provide additional assistance when tenants find it difficult to pay their rent or need help with neighbour difficulties. 

Our General Needs homes are located mainly around Dorset, but also in Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Devon. 

Customers within General Needs will have signed a Starter Tenancy or Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement.  

If you would like help understanding your Agreement, you can contact your local Tenancy Team who can help and provide you with this information 

Customers who are in our Supported Housing Schemes and have signed an Excluded Licence Agreement have access to additional services, including an Intensive Housing Management Service. 

You will receive support by your dedicated team which can include:  

• Individual risk assessments to ensure all support needs are met 
• Regular welfare checks to ensure your safety and well-being 
• Sign-posting and referral to external support providers, such as receiving support for alcohol/substance misuse 
• Support in accessing Domestic Abuse services 
• Support in finding, applying for and moving to a permanent home 

 Not all our customers that receive support and intensive housing management are on an Excluded Licence Agreement.

• Receive information about our charges and how we deliver services
• Ask for a copy of any BCHA policies and procedures which affect you 
• Be consulted when we plan to change the way we provide your service, or want to know what you think about the service
• Be involved in the decision making about your service
• Be compensated, in some cases, if we agree that you’ve received bad service from us
• Appeal against certain decisions that we make
• Privacy and confidentiality, except where someone is at risk of harm or a crime may have been committed
• Have a choice where options are available, and to make your own decisions
• Refuse, or end the services we offer, in line with your legal and other obligations 
• Respectful, fair and courteous treatment from our staff
• Receive our service without abuse or harassment from others 

• Respect our staff and other customers. Harassment, violence, threats, racist behaviour and vandalism are not acceptable
• Comply with any rules or requirements of the service we are providing to you
• Provide us with true information regarding your circumstances

See the Repairs and Maintenance section for further information on how to look after your home.

Under the Housing Act 1994, local authority tenants on an estate or block have the legal right to manage their homes instead of the Council. Tenants of BCHA do not have this legal right but a group of tenants could ask us to enter into a voluntary arrangement with our consent.

Under the Leasehold Reform Act 2002, if more than two thirds of occupants in a block that BCHA manages are leaseholders (have bought their lease), they may have a legal right to set up a management company to take on the running of the block.

Under the Housing (Right to Transfer from a Local Authority) (England) Regulations 2013, groups of tenants living in council housing can ask for their homes to be managed by another landlord.  This right does not apply to Housing Association tenants.

If you would like to know more about these particular rights, please contact your tenancy team.

BCHA are not responsible for the collection of general waste or recycling. This collection is managed by your Local Authority. 

Fly tipping is waste that has been illegally left on land without the owner’s permission. This is usually white goods, furniture, garden waste, large packaging, or any items that can’t fit into bins provided. 

Please report fly tipping if you see it happening. Not only is it an offence and may be in breach of their tenancy, they’re making the area you live in look unsightly and spoiling the quality of life for you and your neighbours. 

If you have bulky waste that needs collecting; 

• Check your local authority website to see if they provide a bulky waste service 
• Take it to your local waste recycling centre 

We don’t pick up bulky items. 

As landowners, BCHA has a legal responsibility to manage all trees to ensure the safety of tenants, members of the public, staff and contractors. 

We will manage and maintain all trees situated on BCHA owned communal land. Our tenants have a responsibility and a duty to maintain any tree stock growing on land covered by their tenancy.