When a new CGA tenant signs their tenancy agreement, they are agreeing to a legal contract with the association. By signing the tenancy agreement, tenants are accepting certain rights and responsibilities.

Responsibilities for all tenants include:

• Paying their rent on time
• Reporting repairs and faults to the CGA that are the CGA's responsibility to deal with
• Allowing the CGA access to carry out repairs and servicing work
• Not behaving in an abusive, aggressive or threatening way to any of the CGA's staff or contractors
• Not harassing or causing a nuisance to neighbours or other residents
• Living in their home as their main or only home, and not using it (or allowing it to be used) for any illegal activity
• Not using their home as a base for running a business, without the CGA's written permission
• Writing to let the CGA know if the tenant is going to be away from their home for more than 28 days
• Taking care of their home by keeping it clean, tidy and reasonably decorated
• Carrying out minor repairs that are the tenant's responsibility
• Paying for chargeable repairs
• Looking after their garden, including hedges
• Being a good neighbour and considering other residents
• Making sure that anyone living in or visiting the tenancy does not cause nuisance, annoyance, anti-social behaviour or violence to anyone else
• Not using the tenancy for illegal or immoral purposes
• Keeping pets under control
• Parking so as not to restrict access to other people's homes.

If a tenant doesn't keep to the responsibilities listed in their tenancy agreement, they have broken their contract with the CGA. This could lead to the CGA taking action against the tenant.

With very serious problems, this could lead to the CGA taking legal action and asking the court for possession of the tenancy. Where there are minor problems (such as an untidy garden), the CGA will work with tenants to try and sort things out.

The CGA has three main types of tenancy agreement - transferring tenants, starter tenants, and new tenants. Tenants' rights vary depending on which agreement they have signed with the CGA.

The transferring tenancy agreement is for people who transferred to the CGA from Preston City Council. By law it is an 'assured tenancy'. This gives tenants protected rights - some covered by law, and some covered by contract. Assured tenants have the legal right to stay in their tenancy provided they keep to the terms of their agreement.

The starter tenancy agreement is for people who became CGA tenants for the first time after the association was set up. Starter tenancies are offered for an initial trial period of one year. They give new tenants a probationary period to show that they can manage their tenancy properly. Starter tenants can become new tenants (see below) as long as they have kept to their starter tenancy agreement.

The new tenancy agreement is for people who become full CGA tenants at the end of their starter tenancy, or tenants of other housing associations who transfer to the CGA.

Further information about tenants' rights and responsibilities is available in the CGA's tenant handbook.