Taking over a tenancy - Succession

We understand that losing someone close to you can be difficult. If you’ve lost someone close to you, and they lived in a Gateway home, you may be able to take over their tenancy. This is called succession. 

Whether you can take over the tenancy depends on the tenancy and your circumstances. 

What does succession mean?

Succession is the legal term for someone taking over a tenancy after the the person living there has passed away. 

Who can take over a tenancy?

Whether you can take over a tenancy can depend on: 

  • The type of tenancy 
  • Your relationship to the person who was living there 
  • If the property was your main home 
  • If the tenancy has been passed on through succession before.  

Succession rights may apply to: 

  • A husband, wife or civil partner 
  • A partner who lived with the tenant as a couple 
  • Another family member who has lived at the property for a qualifying period.  

We'll look at each case individually. We might ask you for evidence to support your application.  

Want to know more?
Our Succession Policy explains the rules we follow when someone asks to take over a tenancy.
Read our Succession Policy

How to apply

If you think you may be able to take over a tenancy, please contact us as soon as you can. 

The quickest way to apply for succession is by our online form. 

Fill out our succession form

You can also contact us by:

What happens next?

When you apply for succession, we: 

  • Receive your application 
  • Review the tenancy details 
  • Look at whether succession rights apply 
  • Contact you if we need any more information 
  • Let you know the outcome in writing. 
Need help or support?

If you're  not sure if you can apply or need some help, please contact us: