Giving up a tenancy

Council tenancies are weekly and you can only end your tenancy by giving us four weeks' written notice. The notice can be given by you or, if you're unable to, by someone you've appointed to act for you. In March, you can give notice using your MyTandridge account, you just complete the form and a case will be sent to the housing officer who will contact you. Or you can complete the form in the moving out booklet  and send it to the Housing Team.

When you decide to move out, you must give us at least four weeks’ notice before leaving. In some cases, like a transfer or if a relative has passed away, we may agree to a shorter notice, but this is rare.

If you can’t give four weeks’ notice because of special circumstances, or if you’re not sure when you’ll be leaving, contact your Housing Officer to discuss other options.

You will also need to give us a forwarding address in case we need to contact you after you’ve moved.

Don’t forget to update your new address with Universal Credit, Council Tax, Housing Benefits, your children’s school, your doctor, your bank, and other important places.

Before you move out, we will need to inspect your property and arrange viewings:

• We will inspect your home to check its condition. A Housing Officer will contact you to set up a suitable time.
• At the inspection, we will tell you if you need to repair anything. If you don’t fix these repairs, we will do the work after you move out and charge you for the cost.
• If repairs are needed and they are our responsibility, we will contact you to arrange a time to fix them.
• We may also need to show your property to potential new tenants before you move out. We will contact you to make an appointment for the viewings.

You need to pay rent until your tenancy ends, which is usually four weeks after you give notice to leave. The end date is typically a Monday.

When you move out, your rent account must be fully paid. You must also return all keys, including any for sheds or garages, to the Council Offices by midday on the Monday your tenancy ends. Any keys for windows should be left at the property.

If you don’t return the keys on time, you’ll be charged an extra week’s rent and for the cost of changing the locks.

If you are the next-of-kin of a tenant who has died, housing benefit will stop the Monday after the death and full rent will be charged.

It is your responsibility to arrange for your gas and electricity meters to be read. You can do this on the day you move out if you give your suppliers enough notice, so contact them as soon as you can.

If needed, leave key cards for gas and electricity in the property, making sure there’s at least £1 of credit left. Please don’t disconnect the gas or electricity services.

You must tell us:

• The name of your gas and electricity suppliers.
• Your final meter readings.

When you move out, please:

• Turn off the water at the main stop valve.
• After reading your meters, turn off the gas at the meter.
• Switch off all electricity at the fuseboard.

When you move out, you must remove all your furniture, carpets (including any adhesive or gripper rods), personal belongings and rubbish from the property. This includes the loft, balcony any cupboards under the stairs, garden, shed, garage, or any other outbuildings.

If you have items from the health authority or social services you don’t need at your new address, you should arrange to return them.

You must also leave the garden tidy. This includes cutting back hedges and mowing the lawn.

If you leave any possessions or rubbish behind we have to clear, you’ll be charged at least £350 plus VAT.

If you need help removing items, please contact the Council's bulky waste collection service.

You must leave the property clean when you move out. This includes cleaning the kitchen, bathroom units, sinks, baths, basins, toilets and the floors and walls. The decor must also be in good condition.

If we have to clean the property after you leave, you will be charged at least £150 plus VAT.

If we need to redecorate, typical costs are £1,500 for a one bedroom flat and up to £2,500 for a three bedroom house.

Whenever possible, we will inspect your home before you move out to check it will be left in good condition, as required by your tenancy agreement.

Before you move, you must repair or replace any damage caused on purpose or by neglect. If you don’t do this, it could affect any offer of alternative housing we might offer you.

If you don’t repair the damage, you will be charged for the cost of fixing it. You will be told what work needs to be done at the time of the inspection.

All fixtures and fittings provided by us, like kitchen units, radiators, gas fires, light fittings and door knobs, must be left in the property when you move out.

You must remove your carpets, floor coverings and any personal fixtures. If you cause any damage while removing these items, you must fix it, unless a Housing Officer agrees some items can stay.

For example, if carpets are in very good condition, you might be allowed to leave them. You may also need to remove laminate flooring unless it’s well fitted and in very good condition.

If you’ve added fittings like new doors, a gas fire, or kitchen or bathroom fixtures, these become the property of the Council when you move out.

You can only take these items with you if you replace them with the original fittings, make sure everything is working properly and fix any damage caused during the process.

You need our approval before making any big changes to your garden. When you move out, we will decide what to do with any improvements or changes you’ve made. You may need to take them down, make them safe, or return the garden to a reasonable condition.

You must return the property with vacant possession, which means no one should still be living there. If someone is still in the property, the tenancy will continue until they have moved out.

We are not responsible for any items you leave behind when you move out. Also, make sure to redirect your mail, as you won’t be allowed back into the property to collect any mail that arrives after you’ve moved out.

If you are unsure about anything or need advice, call Customer Services at 01883 722000.

You will have to pay if:

• You return the keys late or don’t return them at all.
• We have to remove your possessions or rubbish from the property, garden, or garage.
• We have to clean your property.
• We have to repair any damage caused by you, your family, your visitors, or neglect.
• You make improvements or changes without permission.
• Any changes or improvements you made are unsafe.
• You remove items that belong to the Council, like kitchen units, radiators, light fittings, door knobs etc.
• You remove your own fixtures without fixing any damage caused.
• The council bin that belongs to the property is missing.
• We have to remove and store your possessions.

We will inspect the property after you leave. If there are any costs you need to pay, we will contact you and let you know how to pay.

Once you know you’re moving, it’s a good idea to ask about removal costs. Using a removal company can be expensive, depending on what services you need. Many companies will pack your things for you, but this will cost more. Contact a few companies to ask how much it will cost.

They will likely want to come and see how much furniture you have before giving you a price. Get at least three quotes and check what’s included in the price before deciding.

If you have enough family or friends to help, you might want to borrow or hire a van, especially if you’re moving locally and can make a few trips.

Remember, packing furniture for transport is a skilled job and could be dangerous if not done properly. Also, your belongings might not be covered by insurance while they’re being moved, so it’s worth checking or arranging insurance.

Furnistore 

For more details, e-mail Furnistore, or call 08450 544089.

Furnistore provides good quality second-hand furniture and some electrical goods to families who can’t afford to buy them. They have a shop in Merstham where furniture is sold to the public.

They collect good quality items like beds, sofas, chairs, tables, chests of drawers, small wardrobes, gas cookers, fridges, freezers, tumble dryers, kettles, toasters, irons, as well as crockery, towels, duvets, pillows, bed linen, curtains and curtain poles.

If you arrange a collection directly with Furnistore, you’re asked to make a small donation, which may be gift-aided. For example, it's £5 for up to three items and £10 for more than three, unless you’re on benefits.

This is cheaper than arranging a special collection with Biffa, and the furniture is reused instead of being sent to the landfill. Electrical items should be no more than five years old and all upholstered items like beds and chairs must have a label showing they meet fire safety rules (foam 1988 or later).

Surrey Reuse Network

You can also contact Surrey Reuse Network or call 0800 779 7734.

You may have been receiving other services, like television rental, meals on wheels, or library books. You will need to arrange for any rented or hired items to be returned or collected. For services you still need, make sure they’re redirected to your new address. It’s a good idea to make a list of everyone who needs your new address.

Use this list to make sure you've done everything to avoid extra costs.

Moving Out Checklist – Have you…?

• Given four weeks’ notice in writing? 
• Allowed us to inspect your home and show new tenants around?
• Returned all keys to us, on time?
• Made sure your rent account is clear?
• Provided a forwarding address?
• Told Council Tax?
• Told Housing Benefits (if applicable)?
• Cleared all rubbish, furniture and personal belongings from the property, including outbuildings and the loft?
• Removed carpets, floor coverings, shelving, curtain rails, etc. and fixed any damage caused?
• Cleared the garden and shed, cut the lawn and hedges and removed any rubbish?
• Left all fixtures and fittings intact?
• Thoroughly cleaned the property and left it tidy?
• Left the property in good decorative condition?
• Turned off the water at the main stop valve?
• Turned off or isolated the gas and electricity?
• Told the companies supplying gas, electricity, water, etc. about your change of address?
• Arranged for your meters to be read and emptied if needed?
• Left your gas and electricity key cards if you use them?
• Transferred your TV licence by calling TV Licensing?
• Transferred your home contents insurance?
• Asked for a final bill from your telephone company?
• Redirected your mail? You can get a form at the Post Office.