End of Tenancy guide

End of Tenancy guide

End of Tenancy Guidance - Handing back the Property


In accordance with the terms of your tenancy agreement, you have two main obligations to consider

when ending your tenancy:


1.The property and contents should be handed back in the same condition as they were at the

beginning of the tenancy, but allowing for normal wear and tear.


2.The rent must be up to date, and all bills settled.


The Checkout

We will subsequently contact you to make an appointment time for your actual checkout. This will

need to be fixed for a time when you are literally ready to close the door and hand back the keys.

During the checkout we will check the condition of the entire property and contents against the

inventory, and record gas, electricity, and water meter readings if relevant.


The following notes are intended to help you prepare for the checkout, so that the event runs

smoothly, and to minimise the risk of misunderstandings, deductions from your deposit, last minute problems or surprises:


The Inventory

It is a good idea to start your preparations now by running through your copy of the inventory to

remind yourself about the contents and condition at the start of the tenancy, and to check for damaged

or missing items.


Normal Wear and Tear

Please note that normal wear and tear does not include damage, nor excessive wear and tear.


Preparing the Property and Contents

1.All soft furnishings especially carpets, curtains and mattresses should be left clean, paying special attention to any heavy stains and marks if applicable. This may mean having carpets deep cleaned, and curtains dry cleaned and pressed.

2.All kitchen utensils, equipment and appliances should be cleaned, the fridge and freezer defrosted, food should be removed from all the cupboards and all hard surfaces should be washed down and cleaned, including the kitchen floor, which must not be 'sticky'.

3.All bathroom/WC furniture and fittings should be thoroughly cleaned with a proprietary bathroom cleaner/disinfectant paying particular attention to any stains or marks.

4.All the woodwork, skirting boards etc. should be washed down.

5.Any linen, towels etc. should be laundered and pressed and left in the appropriate places.

6.All items of furniture should be dusted, cleaned and left in the appropriate rooms.

7.All electrical goods and appliances, including light bulbs and any garden equipment should be in good working order.

8.Gardens and patio should be free from weeds and lawns cut.

9.No rubbish should be left on the premises, except in the appropriate wheelie bin.

10.All sets of keys must be handed over. Internal keys for cupboards, windows etc. should be left in their locks.


Final Bills

You should contact the appropriate offices for telephone, water rates, and council tax and arrange for final bills. For gas and electricity it is generally easier to inform them of the final meter reading after the checkout. We will record these reading during the checkout.


Mail Forwarding

You should make arrangements with the Royal Mail.


Viewings

It is possible that we may contact you to arrange to show the property to prospective tenants. It is a condition of your tenancy agreement that you allow us to do so. However we will give reasonable notice, and endeavour to do so at your convenience.


Return of Deposit

Please note that your deposit will not be returned at the checkout. It will be returned by the provider. Where it is necessary for us to obtain estimates for replacements or remedial works, there may be a further delay, but we will endeavour to keep this to a minimum.


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We look forward to speaking to you shortly. In the meantime if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us during office hours.


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