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Moving out is a fairly complex process which, alongside the next step of moving into your new home, can be stressful. Our useful guide provides hints are tips to help make the process as smooth as possible.
You’ll need to give notice in line with your tenancy agreement and current regulations. If you’re unsure, you can contact Lettings Client Services to confirm how long this needs to be.
Once we have received notice we will send a form to be completed by all tenants listed on the Tenancy Agreement. This form will ask for your forwarding address and bank details, along with information on the utility suppliers in the property. It’s important to return this as failure to return the completed form may delay the return of your deposit.
We would like your deposit return to be swift and to end your tenancy on a positive note. With this in mind, it’s useful to know that cleaning is one of the most common reasons for delays in deposit returns.
Checking the original inventory can help ensure the property is returned to a similar standard of cleanliness, allowing for fair wear and tear. If you cannot find your copy of the inventory, please contact Lettings Client Services and we can forward one to you.
You are not required to use professional cleaning services unless this was provided at the start of the tenancy and the property is not returned to a comparable standard. Any deductions proposed from the deposit must reflect the actual condition of the property at check‑out.
Make sure each item is put back where it was when you checked in, especially if your property was originally furnished. For any missing or damaged items, tell the letting agent or landlord before checking out to find out how to best replace or repair them.
Please ensure that any bins are placed in the correct position for council collection.
During your tenancy, if your landlord has given permission for you to make any temporary alterations to the property you will need to ensure that they are returned to how they were at the start of the tenancy.
Contact utility suppliers (water and sewage, electricity, gas, telephone and broadband, media services and TV licence) and let them know your move-out date.
For gas, electricity and water (if metered), you will need to have your final meter readings to hand. The service provider will require your forwarding address so that they can send you a final bill. If you have an oil tank or propane gas cylinder this should be topped up to the same level as it was when you moved in.
Also contact your local authority and inform them of your moving date and where you’ll be moving to, so they have a forwarding address on file.
So that your post continues to get to you, it’s important to contact anyone that holds personal details for you and provide them with your new address, such as:
It’s also worth setting up a Royal Mail redirection service for the first few months after check-out.
When you’ve made the final rental payment, contact your bank to cancel the standing order mandate. They will only act on your instruction and if you don’t inform them of the cancellation they will continue making the payment. If you do not cancel your standing order, any rent payments made in error will be returned once identified.
On your vacating date, you should return all keys, alarm fobs, gate remotes and any parking permits that were signed over to you at the beginning of or during your tenancy. Please note that once you have surrendered the keys to the property you will have no legal right to re-enter the property.
Checkout usually takes place the working day after the last day of your tenancy. The independent inventory company will check the condition of the property and its contents against the inventory created at the start of the tenancy. We strongly recommend that you are present for the checkout appointment as the report created on this visit forms part of your deposit negotiation.
Once both you and the landlord are in agreement, your deposit will be returned to you (minus any agreed costs for repairs or cleaning, if applicable). If a disagreement occurs, any undisputed amount can be released to you and the remainder will be kept until an appropriate outcome has been agreed. Depending on your landlord’s service agreement with us, we may act as an intermediary with you and the landlord to negotiate. If we are unable to resolve any disagreement, we will refer the case to the deposit protection scheme used to protect your deposit, who offer a free dispute resolution service.