Demotion of Tenancies

What are they?

Demotion orders allow landlords to apply to the courts to reduce the security of tenure for tenants and can be a precursor to possession.

Demotion orders remove a number of tenancy rights, including the right to buy and the right to exchange.

Upon granting of the order the tenancy is replaced with a less secure form of tenancy.

Demoted tenancies last for a year unless proceedings are issued within that year and then the demoted tenancy will continue until the proceedings are withdrawn or the proceedings are settled.

Demotion orders give a serious warning to the tenant, since if they continue to misbehave swift action can be taken to seek possession of their home.

When should they be used?

When a tenant, another resident or visitor to the tenant’s home has behaved or threatened to behave in a way which is capable of causing nuisance or annoyance and affects the housing management of an area and/or includes using the premises for unlawful purposes.

As an alternative to seeking a possession order.