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Frequently asked questions

Question
I have been give Notice to vacate my present Accommodation, what do I do?

Answer
The advice we can give and your rights of occupation depend on the accommodation you occupy, for example whether you rent the accommodation, have sole use of it or whether you are in lodgings.

As a general guide, if you pay rent and have sole use of accommodation and your landlord does not share facilities with you or lives on the premises, then you will have certain rights of occupation.

This will depend on the type of tenancy you have and how long you have lived there. There are two types of tenancy in the private sector, an Assured Tenancy and more commonly an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.

If you have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, it will be necessary for your landlord to serve two months Notice that he requires you to vacate. If you have an Assured Tenancy then it will be necessary for your landlord to serve one months Notice on a prescribed form and giving the grounds he will be relying on for Possession.

We have various booklets available explaining tenants rights of occupation. If you require one or would like further information contact

- Housing Services, Elmfield, New Yatt Road, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 1PB
- Telephone 01993 861010
- Email housing@westoxon.gov.uk

You can also obtain information booklets from the Town Centre Shop, 3 Welch Way, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 6JH.

As it is not easy to give clear advice regarding any Notice served without having seen the Notice or the tenancy agreement (if you have one), you should contact Housing Services and make an appointment, if necessary, to discuss your situation further. We will need the following in order to advise you of your rights;

- Your Tenancy Agreement, to determine the type of tenancy you have.
- The Notice received, in order to determine whether it is a valid Notice.
- How long you have lived in your present accommodation.

You can also obtain advice and information from the Citizens Advice Bureaux.

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