Let’s chat about something that A LOT of people living in shared housing, supported accommodation, or even private rooms often don’t fully understand:
Licence to Occupy / Licencee Rights 🔎

Many people THINK they’re tenants… but actually, they’re “licensees.” This can affect your rights massively! So let’s break it down 👇

What is a Licence to Occupy?

A licence to occupy means:
✅ You’re being allowed to live somewhere (your room, bedspace, or unit)
✅ BUT you don’t have exclusive possession (i.e. full legal control over the space)
✅ Your landlord / housing provider has more flexibility in ending the agreement

You’re called a licensee, not a tenant.

Common places where licences apply:

• Supported accommodation / hostels
• Sheltered housing (sometimes)
• Bedsits or rooms where landlord lives in the same property
• Temporary accommodation from councils
• Student halls
• Emergency accommodation
• Lodgers (sharing facilities with landlord)
• Staff accommodation (tied to employment)

What makes it a licence rather than a tenancy?

🔑 If:

• You share key areas (kitchen, bathroom) with the landlord
• The landlord can enter your room without notice
• You don’t have exclusive possession of any part of the property
• The agreement says it’s a “licence” (though wording isn’t the only factor!)

👉 It’s not just what the contract says, it’s HOW you live there.

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⚠ Why does this matter?
Tenants and licensees have very different rights:

Right	Tenant (AST)	Licencee
Eviction Protection	Strong	Weaker
Notice Period	Usually 2 months	Often very short (e.g. 7-28 days)
Court Order Needed?	Yes	Often not
Repairs	Legal obligation	Still some duties, but more limited
Rent Protection	Yes	Less regulated

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BUT! Don’t panic: Licensees still have rights.

Even as a licensee:
✅ You’re entitled to a safe and healthy living environment
✅ Landlords must not harass you
✅ They cannot simply throw you out without following some process
✅ Some forms of supported accommodation must follow stricter rules, especially if publicly funded

And if you’re vulnerable or in supported accommodation, additional protections may apply under the Care Act, Housing Act, or local safeguarding duties.

Some landlords abuse the licence label
Sadly, some landlords call it a “licence” to avoid giving you proper rights when in fact you should legally be a tenant (especially if you have exclusive possession of a room).

⚖ In those cases, tribunals and courts may rule you actually have a tenancy, even if your contract says otherwise.

Key takeaway:
ALWAYS know what type of agreement you have.
If unsure, get advice from:

1. Shelter England – england.shelter.org.uk — 0808 800 4444.
2. Citizens Advice Redditch & Bromsgrove – citizensadviceredditch.org.uk.
3. TSUK Letters Templates – TenantSupportUK.com
4. ACORN Community Union – acorntheunion.org.uk.
5. Generation Rent – generationrent.org.
6. Renters Reform Coalition – rentersreformcoalition.co.uk.
7. Housing Ombudsman Service – housing-ombudsman.org.uk.
8. Redditch Borough Council Housing Solutions – redditchbc.gov.uk/housing or call 01527 587 000.
9. Tenancy Deposit Schemes – depositprotection.com (DPS) • tenancydepositscheme (TDS) • mydeposits.co.uk (MyDeposits)

Tenant Support UK