Moving Out

When you want to move out of a rented property, it is important to give appropriate notice to your landlord. In most cases it is not necessary to provide written notice if you are moving out at the expiration of a lease, though you should check your rental agreement to determine what, if any, kind of formal notice must be given.
If you leave before a lease expires, you are responsible for paying the rent for the remainder of the lease. However, the landlord must make an effort to re-rent the unit at a reasonable price. If this is not done, the tenant may not be liable for rent beyond a reasonable period of time.
If you stay beyond the expiration of the lease, and the landlord accepts the next month's rent, then you are assumed to be renting under a month-to-month agreement. Written notice at least 20 days before the end of the rental agreement is required to move out.

Arranging an Inspection

Three weeks before your tenancy ends make sure that you have an end of tenancy inspection visit by the owner/agent. Ideally you should be present at that visit so that you can agree any work you need to do with the owner/agent.
Before the inspection ask the owner/agent for a checklist of what they expect you to do. The list on pages 4 and 5 shows the areas that owners are likely to inspect. If an inspection isn't organized (or they don't turn up...) take photos or video footage and/or ask someone in a position of responsibility (doctor, minister, lawyer) to confirm that the house is in the condition you say it is.

Utility Companies

Two weeks before you are due to move out you should also contact all the utility companies (gas/electricity/telephone) and arrange for final readings to be taken. You will also need to write and request your names are taken off the bills from the date you all move out.

Making Sure Everyone Does their Fair Share of Work

If you are renting a shared house then you should leave the property in a fit state for the next set of tenants to move in. If you have signed a joint contract (as many students do) then you are jointly responsible for the whole house and it is important that the whole house is cleaned and left in a good condition.
It is important that every occupant does their fair share of work. Avoid individual occupants leaving one by one over the last few weeks leaving cleaning to one or two remaining tenants. Work out who will clean what.
Most students will clean their own bedroom, but make sure you divide the responsibilities between yourselves for living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, corridors, cellars and gardens. Generally, cleaning and clearing the kitchen and bathroom in a house is 50% of the task of cleaning the whole house.
Allow yourself plenty of time to clean the house at the end of the year. Never have an end of house party on the last day. Always leave at least three days after any social event to clean up and move out.