secure tenancy
A residential tenancy in which the tenant has statutory protection if he occupies the rented property as his home. It applies only if there is a specific type of landlord, such as a local authority, the Housing Corporation, or a housing action area. Certain tenants are excluded from protection; these include students, the occupants of almshouses, licensed premises, and accommodation for the homeless, and those renting accommodation on long leases or who have a service tenancy.

If a secure tenancy is for a fixed term, the tenancy continues at the end of the term as a periodic tenancy. A landlord can only terminate a secure tenancy by serving a notice on the tenant in a statutory form and can only obtain possession with the tenant’s consent or, if this is refused, by a court order. An order is granted only if the landlord has statutory grounds similar to those required in the case of an assured tenancy. When the holder of a secure tenancy dies, his spouse or a member of his family who has lived with him for the past 12 months can succeed him as tenant. Under certain conditions, secure tenants have a right to buy their rented property, at a discount on the market value of the property, and with their landlord supplying a mortgage. The Housing Act 2004 gives landlords the right to suspend completion of a right-to-buy sale where some types of court action relating to antisocial behaviour are pending. The Housing Act 1988 contains provisions for the transfer of public-sector housing to the private sector and to housing action trusts. See also introductory tenancy.

• section
• section 1(2A) presumption
• section 12 doctor
• section 37 investigation
• section 47 enquiry
• section 8 orders
• sector theory
• secure accommodation
• secured creditor
• secure tenancy
• securities
• security
• Security Council
• security for costs
• security of tenure
• sedition
• seduction
• seisin
• select committee
• self-assessment
• self-build society
• self-defence
• self-determination
• self-employed
• self-executing treaty