As much as you’ve loved living in your Cheltenham rental property, it’s time to leave. Maybe you’re buying a house in Cheltenham or you’re moving to a bigger place.
Whatever your reasons for moving to a new home, you’ll be leaving your old one and it’s always best to go as smoothly as possible and on the best terms with your landlord or letting agent. Here’s how to move on with your head held high and your deposit intact.
Give your landlord the right period of notice
If your tenancy is fixed term then your agreement will set out how long your notice period should be and it’s especially important to stick to it if you’re ending it early. If it’s a periodic – or rolling – tenancy then you’ll need to give a month’s notice.
Do a deep clean
Unexpected or excessive cleaning costs are the main reason for deposit problems, so leave the place as pristine as you can. You can either roll up your own sleeves or bring in a cleaning team (if you decide to use professionals, keep the receipts in case of any disputes) and make sure all of your personal belongings and any rubbish is gone.
Repair any minor damage
If you scuffed some paint during your tenancy, then repaint the area. Similarly, if your landlord gave you permission to hang pictures and you’ve left small holes in the wall, fill them in. If any light bulbs have gone since you moved in, replace them too.
Take photos as you go along
Once you’ve cleaned up and removed every last trace of your belongings, take photos of every room and a walkthrough video of the property (with timestamp) to show what you’ve done. If there has been some wear and tear on furniture or appliances, take close-up photos showing the damage.
Complete your check out inventory
You complete an inventory when you move in and when you move out so that your landlord can assess the property and its fittings for damage, wear and tear and to see if anything’s missing.
Most landlords or letting agents perform the inventory a day or so before you move out and if there is damage beyond reasonable wear and tear, you can discuss who pays for what.
Return your keys to the landlord or agent
It’s vital that you return your keys to your agent or landlord and also that you lock up the property when you leave. You’ll usually have to return the keys on your leaving date, so check this is the case and be ready to do just that.
Your keys should be clearly labeled with your name and the property’s address and it’s also a good idea to get written confirmation of receipt from your agent.
Tell all of your utility companies that you’re moving
While notifying your utilities that you’re moving can wait a few days, you should definitely take gas and electricity meter readings on your last day so that you’re not overcharged on your next bill.
Arrange a postal redirection
You should make arrangements for your post to be redirected at least two weeks prior to vacating the property—it is not the landlord’s or future tenant’s responsibility to forward post on. We’ve put together a handy checklist to help you keep on top of your contacts, including those more obscure and easily missed.
You should set up a redirection service around two weeks before you move to make sure you don’t miss any post. It’s not your landlord’s or new tenant’s responsibility to forward your post on to you (although it is the kind thing to do) so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
