Tenant Moving Out Checklist

Many people in the United Kingdom consider relocating to be one of the most stressful periods of their life. While how you feel may differ, there’s no denying that moving out, especially from a rented property, is a taxing process.

You can’t wait to get it over with because you want to leave no stone unturned, and you’re afraid that you might have forgotten something.

That’s why we’re here to help! At Cubic Storage, we’ve compiled a checklist for you to use when moving out of a rented property – which should help to relieve all of that stress caused by the move.

Check Your Lease Agreement

The first step in moving out of a lease is to read your rental agreement and figure out how to terminate it correctly. Depending on whether you have a month-to-month rental contract or a fixed-term lease, the rules and regulations for providing notice, maintenance obligations, utility transfers, and so on differ. Furthermore, each rental agency and property manager has its own standards, which you must verify in accordance with the terms you signed up for.

Provide Adequate Move Out Notice

Typically, a tenant must notify the property owner at least 30 days before leaving a rental. As a result, you should write a tenant move out letter and send it to your landlord at least 5 weeks prior to moving day. Your notice should include an inventory of the property’s current condition, the date you will be moving, and your new address, as well as a request for your deposit back.

Fix and Damages

You must return the property in its original state, so your first step is to examine the house for any damage you may have caused over time – be sure to compare the property to the condition report when you moved in to find out what you’re accountable for.

Wear and tear is to be expected and acceptable, but you are responsible for repairing holes in the walls you’ve created for hanging pictures and other items, fixing scratches and dents on the walls and floors, repainting the walls to their original colour, replacing broken windows, ensuring that the electrical and plumbing systems are in good working order, etc.

Keep receipts for any repair work and document everything; if you made any long-term improvements to the property, you can ask your landlord to deduct the cost of those renovations from your last rent.

Pay Your Bills

Your landlord is allowed to use your deposit money on any outstanding fees or expenses; therefore, make sure you pay off any past-due taxes and fees before leaving the rental – waste management costs, utility charges (for gas, electricity, and water), service expenses (for Internet, cable TV, and phone), and so on.

When you are prepared to leave, notify all of your service providers and arrange for the services to be disconnected on the day after your move (unless you have a different arrangement with your landlord), as well as for the utilities in your new home to be switched on by move-in day. On moving day, don’t forget to take readings of all gas, electricity, and water metres and keep photos of them as proof.

Remove All of Your Belongings from the Property

This should go without saying, but make sure you remove all of your personal belongings from the rental before you leave – including large items such as furniture, pictures, and so on, as well as smaller items such as clothes, dishes, cleaning products, and books. If you plan on taking anything with you that is considered to be part of the property (such as window treatments or light fixtures), be sure to check your lease agreement first; in some cases, you may need to get permission from your landlord.

Thoroughly Clean the Property

Your lease may list specific cleaning requirements (for example, professional carpet cleaning or steam cleaning) or simply ask that you leave the property in good condition. In any case, you should attempt to leave the house in the same condition as when you moved in – or even cleaner if feasible. This will guarantee the return of your security deposit and help avoid difficulties, conflicts, and stress during your move.

Get Your Deposit Back

Once you have moved out, your landlord will inspect the property to determine the amount of money (if any) that needs to be deducted from your security deposit for repairs, cleaning, or other expenses. If there is money left over, you should receive a refund within 30 days; if not, you will be given an itemised list of damages and charges along with an explanation of why the deposit was not returned in full.

How Cubic Storage Can Make the Move Easier

At Cubic Storage, we’re the perfect solution for storing your belongings during a move. With our convenient online booking system, you can reserve a storage unit in just a few minutes – and our prices are very competitive. Plus, we offer a wide range of unit sizes to choose from, so you can be sure to find one that’s just right for your needs. Also, with our flexible rental terms, you can store for as long as you like with us – which is great if you have a waiting period between moving out of your old property, and moving into your new one.So, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our friendly team today to find out how we can help!