Person or household wishes to join-in an existing tenancy

A join-in is when an existing tenant requests that another person or household unit be added to their tenancy agreement, that is, become a signatory to the tenancy agreement.

A join-in may involve new occupants to the tenancy or an existing household member(s) requesting to be added to the agreement.

An existing tenant must first advise their social housing provider if they want to include another person or household unit in the tenancy agreement. The decision to add a person to a tenancy agreement sits with the social housing provider.

Note a social housing provider would not agree to a join-in when the occupancy limit stated in the tenancy agreement would be breached.

If an existing tenant wishes to include another person or household unit and they would need additional bedrooms:

• a joint assessment to be allocated other social housing (a request for a transfer) would be required

or

• the person or household wanting to join the tenancy could apply and be assessed for their own social housing property

For more information see:

• Social housing provider considerations when adding signatory to tenancy agreement

Occupants joining the household do not have to become signatories to the tenancy agreement.

However, tenants are required to advise us of any changes that may affect their calculated rate of Income Related Rent. For example:

• a tenant who has a partner move in with them must advise of their change in circumstances as the partner's income will be taken into account in calculating Income Related Rent as an applicable person
• a tenant who has someone move in with them as a caregiver could be considered as an additional occupant and depending on whether they are paying a contribution it may affect their Income Related Rent.

Note only the signatories to the tenancy agreement have rights to the tenancy. Partners and additional occupants do not have these rights.

A person or household must be eligible for social housing to be included as a signatory to the tenancy agreement.

MSD will complete the assessment of eligibility.