Moving out

Moving out of rented accommodation

Before you move out, you will need to allow your landlord access to your accommodation to show new tenants round. You only need to do this if it's specified in your tenancy agreement, and your landlord must give you notice before coming round. You should also check that you are up to date with all payments to your landlord

When you move out, make sure that you:

leave the house clean and tidy

carry out any repairs you're responsible for (check your tenancy agreement if you're not sure what these are) and put right any damage you may have caused

check your inventory and make sure any damaged fittings or furniture are repaired or replaced. This will probably work out cheaper than waiting for your landlord to put right the damage and then deduct the cost from your deposit.

take some photos of the property, to prove you left it in good order

remove anything you've installed without gaining written permission (unless your landlord agrees you can leave them)

remove all your belongs

hand in your keys to your landlord or housing office

leave your landlord a forwarding address.

Tell the gas, electricity and phone companies

Make sure you tell the electricity and/or gas company and telephone company that you're leaving the property so they can send you a final bill. You should let them know at least 48 hours before you leave.

Your landlord may ask you to prove that you've paid the final bills before you move out.

Don't ask for the services to be disconnected. If you are leaving rented accommodation, your landlord will then have to pay to have them reconnected and may take the money out of your deposit. If someone is buying your home, they will have to pay to have the services reconnected, which will be expensive and inconvenient for them.

Get your post redirected

Make sure everybody has your new address and telephone number so they can contact you. To save time, register at I Am Moving. This website has a large database of utilities suppliers, store cards, government offices and other companies, and can notify them of your change of address for you, free of charge.

You can also arrange to have your post redirected to your new address by contacting Royal Mail.

Arrange your move

If you are moving a short distance and don't have many possessions, then you'll probably be able to move everything yourself, perhaps with the aid of a few friends and a rented van. However, if you have a lot of belongings or are not physically fit enough to carry a sofa up four flights of stairs, you may want to consider getting in the professionals.