Common Mistakes Tenants Make When Moving Out – And How to Avoid Them
With a bit of planning, moving out of your rental can be smooth-running and stress-free. Here’s how.
The date is set; it’s all agreed.
You’ve spoken to your landlord or letting agent and know exactly when you’ll be vacating your current rental and moving to new digs.
So what happens next?
Well, if you like to fly by the seat of your pants, probably not a lot.
You’ll put your feet up and (mistakenly) assume that you can pull everything together at the last minute.
As a result, you’ll make the moving process more stressful than it has to be.
And you may also increase the likelihood of a deposit dispute.
But take it from us (and we’ve managed countless end-of-tenancy check-outs), there is a better way.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can streamline the moving out process and help avoid disputes.
Don’t…Bury your head in the sand
Acknowledge that there’s quite a lot to do to prepare for the end of a tenancy.
Draw up a to-do list of essential tasks and work through all the necessary jobs one by one well in advance of moving out day.
Don’t…Assume
It’s your duty to return the property in the same state as it was at the start of the tenancy, excluding fair wear and tear.
But if you’ve been living there for some time, your memory might be a little hazy.
To ensure you get all the details right (including furniture configuration and the state of the garden), look back at your check-in inventory.
Don’t…Underestimate how long it takes to pack
Many people lose track of how much stuff they’ve accumulated over time and, hence, overlook the time it takes to pack it all away.
Get as much done as soon as you can.
If you have items that you no longer need or want, give them away, as you must take all your furniture and belongings with you when you move out.
Don’t…Cut corners with cleaning
Cleaning is one of the most common causes of end-of-tenancy deposit disputes, so always follow what’s specified in the tenancy agreement.
Areas tenants often overlook include the freezer (make sure you empty it) and the windows, oven and curtains (which all need to be cleaned).
If you hire a professional cleaner, hold on to the receipt.
On the big day
When it comes to moving out, you should be in a good place. Have all sets of keys to the property ready to return and, of course, take meter readings.
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