Ending your tenancy and moving out

This section contains information for tenants wishing to end their tenancy agreement.

To end your tenancy use our online Notify end of tenancy form. Alternatively you can write a letter and send it to either area housing office.

The basic things you need to know

• Four weeks written notice is required from one or both tenants to end the tenancy. The notice will commence on the Monday after it is received by the Council (served on us) and end four weeks later.
• The Council may call during the notice period to assess any repairs needed, commence those repairs and advise you of any rechargeable items.
• All keys must be returned before 5pm on the Monday the notice ends. If the keys are returned prior to the tenancy ending, rent will still be payable until the tenancy end date.
• Please ensure that the property and gardens are left clean and tidy and that all furniture and personal possessions are removed.
• If vacant possession is not given at the end of the notice period the tenancy will still have ended. The Council will have the right to seek possession of the property and charge for any rental loss.
• The Council reserves the right to charge the tenant all reasonable costs incurred to gain entry, clear, clean and carry out repairs due to wilful damage or neglect caused during the tenancy.
• Where a sole tenant has passed away, you can only give notice if you have the legal authority to do so (e.g. as Executor of the will / Power of Attorney). If you do not please speak to the Tenancy Team who will advise you further.

Please read the following pages in this section for further details.

You must give us at least four weeks' notice in writing. If you do not give us this notice, you will be charged four weeks rent after you have handed in the keys. Notice can be given by one or both tenants in the case of a joint tenancy. You can write a letter or use our online ending your tenancy form.

The notice will commence on the Monday after it is received by the Council (served on us) and end four weeks later. This is known as the 'notice period'. Once you have given us notice, we will confirm in writing the date your tenancy will end.

We may arrange to come out and inspect your home before you leave, to check for repairs we need to do and advise you of anything you need to do before you leave. You will be recharged for any clearing or repairs we carry out that are your responsibility, or for any damage or misuse of the property. 

For joint tenants, a valid notice signed by only one tenant will end the tenancy so that: 

• at the end of the tenancy all occupants must leave the property
• all keys must be returned by the notice expiry date

All keys must be returned before 5pm on the Monday the notice period ends. If the keys are returned prior to the tenancy ending, rent will still be payable until the tenancy end date.

After giving notice you need to:

• Pay your rent in full up to the Monday on which your tenancy ends
• Complete any repairs you are responsible for carrying out and make sure fixtures and fittings are in the same condition as when you moved in (allowing for wear and tear)
• Organise the removal of all your household goods
• Contact Housing Repairs to tell us about any outstanding repairs that are our responsibility
• Contact all utility providers so they can close your account for that address, send their final bills and, if necessary, disconnect the service
• Contact the Housing Benefit and Council Tax teams to let them know you are moving out and where you are moving to

On the Monday your tenancy ends, or before, you must return all the property keys to us. These include:

• property
• windows
• shed
• garage

Please label and deliver the keys by hand to your local Area Housing Office before 5pm. If the keys are not received, you may incur further charges.