Renting a home provided by an employer
Renting somewhere to live that is provided by an employer is commonly known as tied accommodation. You may pay your rent separately or it is deducted from your wages when you get paid. Accommodation might be described as free, but if it is included as part of your role, it may still be tied accommodation.
Service occupier
If you are required to live where you work in order to carry out your duties of employment, you are a Service Occupier. This should be stated in your employment contract. Employment examples of this would be a live-in carer or a housekeeper. Your contract should detail the following:
- The amount of rent you must pay and how this needs to be paid.
- Notice given if you are made redundant or dismissed.
- The notice you must give if you resign.
Employment end
You normally have a right to live in your home until your employment comes to an end. You may still have basic protection from eviction (opens new window) meaning your employer needs to apply for an eviction order from the court if you do not leave when your employment ends.
A court order will not be required if you live there rent free or you are sharing a living space with your employer. If you do not have to pay rent and get normal wages for your job, then accommodation provided by your employer is rent free. This means you can be evicted without a court order.
Rent free accommodation is where you do not have to pay rent but do receive normal wages from your employer. If you do not pay rent but receive lower wages to help cover the accommodation, this means you are paying rent and have basic protection from eviction.
Unfair dismissal
You may be able to challenge an unfair dismissal through an employment tribunal.
Please read the Citizens Advice bureau guidance (opens new window) as well as further information on service occupiers (opens new window).
Service tenant
You are a Service Tenant if you rent accommodation provided by your employer (opens new window), but do not need to live there in order to carry out employment duties. Your type of tenancy will depend on your employer and who you rent from.
Your employer must follow the legal eviction process if they want you to leave the accommodation, even if your employment has ended.
An example of this could be living in a flat above a restaurant where you work, but there are no specific things you need to do at work that means you have to live there. Therefore, it is the choice of the business to rent you the flat or house.
If you are privately renting, please visit Privately renting advice. Alternatively, if you require further advice, or you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, please contact the housing advice team (opens new window).
Contact us
For more information and advice please email housingadvice@chichester.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can phone 01243 534734.
Share this page
