Key points to remember
Be aware that:
- If you do not give us four weeks’ notice, or the amount of notice agreed in advance with your housing officer, we will still charge you rent even if you have moved out
- If you have a joint tenancy, all tenants named in your tenancy agreement must give notice. We may accept one signature
- We will do an end of tenancy inspection of your home during the first week of your notice period. This is to identify any repairs or work you may be charged for after you leave. You could save money if you fix these yourself
- You must give us vacant possession of your home. This means you must not move out and leave someone, like a lodger or a family member, living in the property unless you have formally passed your tenancy onto them
- You must leave the property in good condition, and as agreed with your housing officer during your end of tenancy inspection
- You must hand all your keys into City Hall before midday on the Monday that your tenancy ends. If you return them after this time, we will charge you an extra week's rent
- You must pay all of the rent you owe during your notice, and you must clear your rent account before you move out
- We will take action to recover any unpaid rent or other debt, even if you are no longer a council tenant. Unpaid debt can affect you applying for a council home in the future, and homes owned by other housing providers
- You should also make sure you have done these things before you give your keys back to us:
End of tenancy inspection
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We will book an appointment with you for your end of tenancy inspection as soon as we receive your signed notice. You must keep this appointment.
During the inspection we will:
- Complete any missing information on your end of tenancy notice
- Discuss any rent arrears you have, including any court costs, and agree the payments you will make to clear this before your tenancy ends
- Identify any repairs that are needed before the property can be let to somebody else
- Tell you if any repairs will be charged to you, and agree how you can fix these before leaving the property to avoid being charged
- If emergency repairs are found, arrange appointments for these before your tenancy ends
- Tell you the condition we expect you leave property in when your tenancy ends
- Tell you if you qualify for compensation for any improvements, you have done
How to avoid charges when you move out
A new tenant will be moving in after you leave, so you need to:
- Leave your home clean and tidy, and in good repair. This includes any garden, yard, balcony or shed
- Leave all permanent fittings in the property in good condition and with no signs of damage. This includes kitchens, bathrooms and other things that shouldn’t be removed
- Disconnect your cooker and washing machine safely. If you're not sure how to do this, then get someone else to do this for you
- Remove all your belongings, including everything stored in your loft, yard, shed or garden
- If you have a garden, make sure it is clean and tidy and cut any grass or hedges before you leave
If you have large items that you no longer want, we can arrange for these to be collected.
Call 01522 881188
Apply for a bulky item collection
What we will charge for
You will be charged the full cost of any repairs, replacements or cleaning needed due to misuse, neglect or damage. This is likely to be more than you would pay if you did the work yourself.
You will also be charged if we remove any rubbish or belongings from your home or garden. Our charges include the cost of any work, plus the cost of arranging it.
We will not charge you for fair wear and tear.