How to end a tenancy

You need to end your tenancy if you want to leave. If you don't end your tenancy properly, you may still have to pay rent. Your landlord will only be able to get rent from you if another tenant for the property cannot be found.

If you're renting privately, when you can end the tenancy depends on the type of tenancy and what your tenancy agreement says.

Before you leave
Private tenants
Housing Executive tenants
Housing association tenants

Before you leave

Before you leave make sure that you have somewhere else to go. The Housing Executive may not help you when you apply as homeless if you give up your tenancy without good reason. This is because the Housing Executive might decide that you are intentionally homeless.

Private tenants

If you rent your property from a private landlord, you must follow the correct procedure if you want to end your tenancy. Visit our new renting subsite to find out how to end your tenancy properly.

Housing Executive tenants

You can leave your Housing Executive tenancy at any time if you give 28 day' notice. You must write to your local District Office stating the date that you plan to leave your accommodation. You will usually be responsible for your tenancy until the end of the 28 days.

The Housing Executive may allow you to give less than 28 days' notice if:

it is likely that squatters will move into the property once you leave,
it can allocate the property within 28 days.

How do I give my notice to quit?

Write to your local District Office including:

your full name,
your address,
the date your tenancy will end,
convenient times for the Housing Executive to inspect the property.

You will have to pay for repairs if you have damaged the property. For example, broken internal doors. Get advice if you are being charged for damage that you didn't cause.

You will usually be responsible for your tenancy until the end of the 28 days. For example, you will have to pay rent until the end of the 28 days even if squatters move in after you leave. You may not be allowed to apply for a Housing Executive tenancy for a further two years if squatters do move in.

What should I do with my keys?

You must return the keys of the property before your notice has expired. You should usually give the keys back to the Housing Executive before 12 noon on the final day of your notice.

If you don't return your keys you will still be responsible for your tenancy.

Housing association tenants

Each housing association has a different procedure for tenants who want to end their tenancy. You can usually leave your housing association tenancy at any time if you give 28 days' notice. You will usually be responsible for your tenancy until the end of the 28 days.

Your housing association may allow you to give less than 28 days' notice if:

it is likely that squatters will move into the property once you leave,
it can allocate the property within 28 days.

How do I give my notice to quit?

Write to your housing association and include:

your full name,
your address,
the date your tenancy will end,
convenient times for the housing association to inspect the property.

You will have to pay for repairs if you have damaged the property. For example, by breaking internal doors. Get advice if you are being charged for damage that you didn't cause.

You will usually be responsible for your tenancy until the end of the 28 days. For example, you will have to pay rent until the end of the 28 days even if squatters move in after you leave.

You may not be allowed to apply for a Housing Executive or housing association tenancy for a further two years if squatters do move in.

What should I do with my keys?

You must return the keys of the property before your notice has expired. You should usually give the keys back to the housing association before 12 noon on the final day of your notice.

If you don't return your keys you will still be responsible for your tenancy.