There are certain things you must do when ending your tenancy.
One of the first things you need to do is inform any joint tenants of your intention to terminate your tenancy. The next is inform your Housing Officer (HMO) on your plans to leave the property. You can do this here:
Your rent account
You must make sure your account is up to date at the end of your tenancy. If you are receiving Housing Benefit/UC Housing Costs, and you take up another address before the end of this tenancy, your benefit may stop early.
Your gas and electric
Contact your gas and electricity providers to let them know you're moving. They will arrange final meter readings with you. If you use a pre-payment card or key, please leave your account up to date and your key in the meter (it will not work in any other meter).
Compensation for improvements
If you have installed new kitchens, bathrooms, heating, and you had written permission from the Council to carry out the works, you might be eligible for compensation. Please ask for a Compensation for Improvements Form from your Housing Management Officer. Alternatively, you can request one at a Customer Service Centre.
On the day you move out
Make sure you have left your house clean and empty, and all the termination standards have been met (see the Termination Standard Guide).
Remember to clear out sheds or outhouses. You can arrange a special uplift on our Request a bulky uplift page. You can also visit your nearest Customer Service Centre to request one.
If you fail to clear your property, we will recharge you for removing things you leave behind. You will be responsible for the cost associated with this.
We will phone you in the week running up to your termination date to remind you to bring all your keys and any door entry key/fob to the nearest Customer Service Centre by 10am on your termination date.
If your tenancy ends on a Saturday or Sunday, you can hand in your keys the Friday before or Monday after. Keys must be returned by 10am on the day of termination.
If the keys are not received by this time, and you do not make contact to arrange an extension, the Council will gain entry to the property and dispose of any items that remain.
Keys received later than 10am will result in an additional day's rent being charged. Therefore, please let us know in advance if you need extra time to move out.
You remain responsible for the tenancy and rent until the keys are returned and the tenancy ends.
Your moving out checklist
- All rent/charges are paid
- Repairs/decoration that are your responsibility have been carried out
- Controlled entry key fobs returned
- Any other keys, e.g. bin store, cellar, window locks – leave in house
- Remove all possessions from home and garden
- Clean/sweep out home
- Tidy garden area
- Dispose of any unwanted items
- Take gas/electric meter readings
- Leave gas/electric keys in the meter
- Notify Council Tax/Housing Benefits
- Arrange for mail to be redirected