5 things to do before vacating a rental

As much as you might love your rental property there is likely to come a time when you’ll have to say goodbye.

While moving homes can be challenging, if you’re aware of your obligations before leaving your rental then things are likely to go a lot smoother for you.

Give adequate notice

Unless you’re the one that has been given notice to leave, you’re going to have to let your landlord know of your intention to vacate the property in writing.

The amount of notice you will need to give will depend on the state or territory you live in, and whether you are on a fixed or a periodic lease, but you may need to give up to a month’s notice.

If you are breaking a fixed term lease keep in mind that you may be liable for rent until the end of your lease is up, plus potentially other fees too, unless you can come to a mutual agreement with your landlord.

Consult your relevant state legislation for more information on the amount of notice that is required and the potential repercussions of breaking a lease early.

Look over the lease agreement

It’s well worth giving your lease agreement a look over to see if there are any special terms or conditions that you may have forgotten about.

Most lease agreements are pretty standard but it may stipulate for example that you need to have carpets professionally steam cleaned before vacating.

Make the property spotless

It should go without saying, but before you leave a rental property you’re going to want to return it to the same state that it was when you moved in.

While you may feel confident cleaning the property yourself, a lot of renters choose to use professional bond cleaners to save themselves some of the hassle. A lot of renters also like that some bond cleaners offer a guarantee and will return to the property to re-clean anything if there are any issues.

Check for damage

You are responsible for repairing any damage that has occurred at the property, beyond fair wear and tear.

Examples of damage may include marks or holes in walls, or appliances that are faulty. If it wasn’t already that way when you moved in then you will be liable for fixing it.

Once you move out of the home it’s a good idea to take photos that can be used as evidence in case there are any disputes about the state the property was left in.

Hand over the keys

After you’ve moved all of your stuff out and returned the property to its original condition, it will be time to hand the keys back in to your property manager.

Make sure that you return all keys that were provided at the start of the lease, as well as any garage remotes, otherwise you will likely incur a charge for their replacement.

If you have any issues at all with your move then contact your property manager who will be able to help resolve them with you.