What happens if you leave or abandon your home?
If you are a secure tenant or an introductory tenant you are required to occupy the property as your only or principal home. If you leave without notice or abandon the property, it is possible that Apex will take the necessary steps to end your tenancy.
Apex can take possession of a property under ‘Article 4 (1) Housing (NI) Order 1983’ where it reasonably believes that:
- The dwelling is unoccupied and the tenant does not intend to occupy it as his/her home. The landlord shall be entitled to enter the dwelling house at any time for the purpose of making safe the dwelling house, and any fittings, fixtures or furniture.
Apex must have ‘reasonable grounds’ for believing that the property has been abandoned and must serve an abandonment notice on the tenant. If the tenant fails to respond to this notice, a further notice bringing the tenancy to an end will be served.