Once a tenant has announced that they would like to leave your property, a list of tasks needs to be completed to assure you and the tenant end the contract fairly. If you’re unsure or want to double-check you’ve considered everything, here’s a checklist to run through:
How Can the Tenancy be Ended?
Normally there are three ways a tenancy can end, the first being a landlord takes the property back after a fixed-term contract has ended, this is called a ‘Section 21’. An example of when a landlord would do this is if they decided they wanted to sell the property.
The second circumstance would be if a landlord wants to evict a tenant for breaking the tenancy agreement. This is known as ‘Section 8’ and examples include damage to the property, sub-letting and unpaid rent.
Finally, and most commonly, the tenancy may end when the renter decides they no longer want to live in the property. Regardless of the reason, a landlord will want the ending process to run smoothly and ensure you’ve covered everything for a positive end to the tenancy.
Notice
It’s essential that you or the tenant gives written notice of the departure. If there is any confusions or complications you’ll need this as proof of the agreed-upon date. The notice period varies on the contact and reason for leaving if it is an eviction this can be much sorter notice when compared to leaving amicably.
Send a Moving Out Letter or Email
Being completely transparent is key to receiving what you want, and sending out a detailed letter will help your tenants fulfil your requirements. The letter should include the following details:
- Termination Date
- Notice Period
- Date of Last Rent Payment
- Details for the Deposit
- Reminder of the inventory
- Reminder of the Start Condition of the Property
- Moving Out Process
Putting the Property Back on the Market
Once you have confirmed the tenants moving out date, you can add the property to the renter or selling market. As long as you give your tenants fair notice, you can allow potential tenants to come and view the property to avoid a longer period of an empty property.
Inspection
Offering an early inspection can be beneficial to helping the tenant know what they need to fix/ clean before they leave. Often the inspection is carried out on the final day of the tenancy, in which you will thoroughly check the property and confirm everything works and hasn’t been mistreated before giving the tenant access to their deposit. Here’s what you should be looking for during the inspection:
- Check the inventory to assure everything is still in the property – thing can include sofas, tables, ironing boards, beds and much more.
- Check the condition of the inventory – wear and tear is natural if a tenant has lived in the property for a long time, but if your inventory has been damaged this needs to be highlighted and potentially replaced by the tenant.
- Check fire alarms are working.
- Check the properties overall condition – floors, carpets walls and white good should all be checked and confirmed to be in working order before the end of the tenancy.
After the Tenant Has Left
Once the tenant has left and everything has been agreed, it’s time to resets the property for the next tenants. The majority of the work should have been done by the previous tenants, but if anything has been left behind or you need to replace something that is getting old like a couch, bed or mattress, business van leasing will help you transport all the old good out of the property. As this is your business you can look for better rates and make sure everything you by for the property is built to last.
