Moving out guide
Everything you need to know about the moving out process.
If you want to move out, it’s a good idea to prepare ahead of time to minimise stress and avoid any last-minute surprises.
Tell us you want to move out
If you want to move out, you need to let us know in advance. This will usually need to be at least one month before you plan to leave, but your tenancy agreement will contain more details. If you want to check your notice period, but no longer have your tenancy agreement please contact us.
If you’re helping someone else move out
You also need to give notice if you’re helping someone else move out or are clearing a home on behalf of someone who has died.
Why do I have a notice period?
There’s a shortage of social housing in the UK with many applicants currently homeless. Notice periods give us time to find new people to move in meaning our homes aren’t left unoccupied.
Moving out
We’ll visit you before you move out. This is so we can answer any questions you might have and check there’s no damage. If there’s damage, we may have to charge you to repair it before the next tenant moves in.
Returning your keys
We’ll agree with you ahead of time on the best way to return your keys to us, which is likely to be a secure key safe. When you leave your home for the last time, make sure it’s fully locked.
You’ll continue to be charged rent until you tell us you’ve left, where the keys are stored and that the property is ready for us to enter.
Delaying your moving date
If you need to delay your moving date, we’re normally able to extend or cancel your notice. But you must contact us as soon as possible, because the gas and electric utilities will transfer to a new provider on the date you leave.
Bills and meter readings
Before you leave, speak to your energy providers about how to pay your final balance and to tell them your new address. On the day you move out, remember to take final meeting readings and provide these to your suppliers.
Clearing and cleaning your home
Your home, including any gardens sheds or outbuildings, needs to be completely clean and cleared of your personal items when you give it back, unless you’ve agreed with us that you’re going to leave some things for the next tenant.
Clearing your home
Before the day you give the keys back, make sure you remove:
- carpets, flooring and curtains
- furniture
- rubbish
- personal belongings
- garden items.
If you’ve arranged with us to leave things for the next tenant, make sure they’re clean. If you’ve arranged to leave storage units like sheds, clear them of your personal belongings.
Cleaning your home
Your home needs to be clean for the next tenant. If you’re unable to clean it yourself, you should get someone do it for you such as a professional cleaner.
If it’s not clean when you hand it back to us, we may charge you the cost of hiring a professional to clean it.
How to get rid of household items
Start thinking about what you’d like to get rid of well before you move out. There are a number of ways to get rid of things without throwing them away.
Sell online
You can sell unwanted, good quality items online on websites like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or eBay.
Donate to charity
Charities are always looking for second-hand items in decent condition like clothes, toys and furniture. Check your local area to see which are near you – some even come and collect it from you.
Recycle
If they can’t be sold or donated, you can take old and unwanted items to your nearest recycling centre. Alternatively, there are recycling companies that offer a pickup service like Eco Rubbish Clearance or AO.
Ask your local council
Councils dispose of large, bulky items for a fee. If you have to leave your item outside while it’s waiting to be collected, attach a note with relevant information like any reference number you’ve been given.
Don’t fly-tip
Fly-tipping is when rubbish like building materials, furniture and electrical goods are dumped in the wrong place. It’s a criminal offence, for which you can be penalised. When you move out it’s important to dispose of unwanted things properly.
Removals and storage
Plan ahead of time how you’ll be moving things out of your home.
You might be able to get help from family and friends, or you might need to hire a removals company. Make sure you organise this in advance and arrange it for the day before you hand back your home to us.
If your new home isn’t ready, you could look at renting a temporary storage unit.
Changing your address
Forwarding your post
We won’t be able to forward your post to you, but you can set up a forwarding service at your local post office.
Who to tell you’re moving
- Government: for Universal Credit and benefits
- Local council: for council tax
- Utility companies: gas, electricity, water, broadband
- Banks, building societies and insurance companies
- Local services: schools, doctors and dentists
- Employers