Move Out Procedure

On this page, you will find information about the processes of preparing to move out of your property at the end of your tenancy, the day of your move out, and to find out more about the deposit returns procedure please visit this page

Moving out of your home at the end of your Tenancy

Prior to moving out, we will be in contact to arrange an appointment for a move-out inspection.

The inspection aims to review the state of the property, see if there is any damage that needs fixing, or see if any areas of the property need cleaning before the next tenant moves in.

  • At the time of the inspection, all tenants must have removed all of their belongings from the property and once all the keys have been returned by all tenants.  This is because the inspection must be the final state of the property, and if someone has access to it afterwards we can't account for any further damage or cleaning that could be required!
  • Where possible, we aim to conduct these inspections with you present so we can discuss the state of the property and try to resolve any issues there and then, however, if you're leaving the property outside of our office hours or during very busy periods we may be unable to do the inspection with you.
  • Remember to have your post re-directed or sent to your new address before you leave and cancel your standing orders.

On the actual day of your move out, you'll hopefully have packed everything up ready to be moved out of the property, and cleaned the property to the required standard. If you're having a move out inspection with a member of staff then you can return your keys to them in person.

  •  If you're leaving outside of our office hours or don't have an inspection booked, then keys must be returned to our office in person no later than 12 pm on the final day of your tenancy
  • If you're unable to hand in keys to us in person, please place the keys in a sealed envelope/package and post it through our secured letter box. Please ensure to let us know beforehand, and write your name and flat on the outside of the envelope.

It is important that we receive all keys back before the end of your tenancy! Usually, the next tenants will be moving in very soon after and if we are unable to provide them with a secure property to move into, then we are required to change the locks for them and you will be charged for the charges that go along with such a replacement.

After conducting our move out inspection, you will receive the Move-out photographic Inventory report and an accompanying email detailing any chargeable damages or any areas that needed cleaning, and a finalised Tenancy Liability form with your final meter readings via Dochub.com to be signed within 21 days of leaving the property during peak periods. This report will detail the general condition of the property, any chargeable damages and any areas that need cleaning. Any charges that are set to be deducted from your deposit and any deductions will need to be agreed upon before the deposit can be returned to you.

The Move-out report will also contain pictures of the property and the condition it was left in, highlighting any damages or cleaning that requires attention, and we will also provide you with photographs (where possible) of your utility meters for your reference.

We are committed to being a responsible and fair company, so if you feel like the charges are not justified or you want to discuss anything further, then we are always welcome to discuss any proposed charges further between you as tenants and your landlord!

  • For all tenancies, TDS Custodial will have on record who the lead tenant is, and it will be up to the lead tenant to assign how much deposit goes back to each tenant.
  • Please note that light bulbs, smoke/CO alarm batteries, mattress protectors vacuum cleaner bags (where applicable) and other consumables need to be replaced by yourself prior to moving out. Should a light bulb be working when you move into the property, and it isn't working when you've moved out, you will be charged for it.

Meter Readings & Utilities

As part of our move out inspections, we will take any and all possible meter readings (i.e. water, electricity, gas) and include them on the move-out report.

We recommend taking your own meter readings, but we will also provide you with photos of the meters as part of the report. Once you have received your move out report and the included meter readings, please contact the utility suppliers that you were with and let them know that you've moved out so they can provide you with a final bill.

A lot of the time, utility suppliers will provide you with estimated bills at the end of your tenancy. These are usually inaccurate and result in you paying them too much! Please make sure you provide them with the actual end meter readings and the date of the end of your tenancy!

Please note that as per the utility undertaking form you signed as part of the application process, you are liable for any and all water, gas and electricity bills up to the end of your tenancy (including standing charges). For example, leaving 4 days before your tenancy is set to end would still leave you liable to pay any day standing charges that may apply to your water, electricity or gas tariff for those remaining 4 days.

Council Tax

You are liable for your council tax up to (and including) the day that your tenancy ends. Even if you're a student and have been exempted from council tax, you still need to let them know that you're moving!

Cancelling Standing Orders

As an important note, please ensure that your standing orders have been cancelled after your final rental payment! If you continue to pay in rent to our account after your tenancy has ended, we may need to pass on any fees or charges for returning money that has been overpaid.

Redirecting Post

It might be worth getting your mail re-directed to your new address, to try and make sure nothing gets lost or incorrectly sent to your old address! This would be done via the Royal Mail themselves, and their redirection service can be found on the Royal Mail website.

Returning the property upon moving out

So, you're ready to move on from the property you're renting, and there's a lot to tick off the list before you leave. One of the most important things you'll need to sort out is cleaning the property.

The cleanliness of the property will be clearly set out in the Move In inventory Report sent to all tenants at the beginning of a tenancy. If the Move Out Inspection Report shows that the property was less clean when the tenant left, the tenant will be responsible for the cost of restoring the property to an equivalent standard.

Therefore, whether you opt to hire a professional cleaner to do the job or decide to do it yourself, it's essential to make sure you have your Move In Inventory Report  with you to see what things looked like before your tenancy began. Reach out to us if you'd like any advice on hiring a professional cleaner. 

Please see our cleaning guide for a guide to tackling a deep, end-of-tenancy clean. 

Damages vs Wear and Tear

As you would expect, any of the Landlord's property that is damaged upon moving out will have to be repaired and replaced. We know that damage is generally not caused deliberately, however, if damage occurs it needs to be repaired regardless of how it was damaged.

If something is damaged due to fair wear and tear or due to a mechanical fault out of yours or our control, then the Landlord will be happy to bear the charge. If the damage is found to have been avoidable, or caused through inappropriate use or carelessness or accident on your part, then you will have to bear any charge for repair or replacement.

Fair Wear and Tear

Categorising damage against fair wear and tear is a difficult task. At Bee City Living, we define fair wear and tear to be expected or reasonable marks, wear or damage caused by normal and reasonable use.

A number of factors will affect whether any damage is classified as fair wear and tear, including (but not limited to):

  • If it was present before the tenants moved in
  • The age of the item
  • The quality of the damaged item (i.e. a lower quality item will be less resistant to wear and tear, and vice versa)
  • If the damage was preventable
  • The length of the tenancy
  • The number of tenants
  • Whether we were alerted to the issue/problem prior to conducting our move out inspection

Some examples of damage and our classification are found below:

  • Marks on the wall from blue tack or similar fixings - Damage
  • A hole in the wall - Damage
  • Broken light bulbs - Damage
  • Small scuff marks - Fair wear and tear

For more information about what fair wear-and-tear is, please see this guide produced by the mydeposits tenancy deposit scheme

Returning your deposit

You are entitled to receive your deposit back when you leave the property -  providing it is left in the same condition as when you moved in. If the property needs to be professionally cleaned or there are any damages or repairs, the landlord is likely to deduct the cost for rectifying these issues from your deposit. 

Take a look at the page for a detailed guide on the next steps for releasing your deposit

Quick Summary of the necessary steps:

  1. Conduct a deep, end-of-tenancy clean of the whole property, dispose of any rubbish, remove all belongings and rectify any damage caused during your stay 
  2. Let us know the day the last person leaves the property so we can book an inspection - remember all keys should be returned no later than 12 pm on the final day of your tenancy
  3. We will make comparisons of your Move out inspections report vs your Move In inspection report sent and approved at the beginning of your tenancy, please ensure your property is returned as you all received it or you may be liable for charges for any cleaning or damages that are not classified as 'Fair wear and tear' that have occurred during your tenancy.
  4. Look out for emails regarding the 'Tenancy Liability form' and a photographic move-out report (if one is sent) and get your deposit back - please allow 21 days for this full process
  5. Once all tenants are happy, sign the Tenancy Liability ensuring you fill out all the requested information so our team can raise the deposit release request 
  6. Cancel your standing orders, re-direct your post, close your utility accounts with the final meter readings provided on the Tenancy Liability Form, let the council know you're moving!
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