The rental property you’re vacating is a huge investment to your landlord. They likely spend a lot on maintenance and are probably paying renters insurance on it as well — learn about what that means here.
For that reason, if you’re planning to move out, it would help if you do things the right way to ensure you and your landlord are satisfied with how the lease ends. You don’t want to fall into problems that could end up being costly.
While the moving process can be challenging, with certain legal restrictions in place to protect the landlord, doing things correctly makes the whole thing fast and easy.
Let’s look at essential tips for moving out of your rental property.
Go Through Your Lease
First, review your lease agreement as soon as you consider a move. It’s easy to forget what the paper says, which makes it important to go through the terms of the lease again to understand the conditions of moving out.
Keep in mind that property owners or agencies have varying policies. You’ve probably moved out of other rentals before, but that shouldn’t make you careless regarding the rules and regulations other people have.
Give an Early Notice
If you plan to move out, give your landlord an early notice as detailed in your tenancy agreement. To avoid legal problems, it’s best to review the requirements in your state and the tenancy policy.
If the two don’t align or you feel that the property’s policies are unreasonable and infringe on your rights as a tenant, your state’s landlord-tenant laws offer you certain protections.
If everything is alright, provide your landlord a written notice that’s in line with the type of lease you have. A monthly rental agreement usually requires that you give a notice a month prior.
For a fixed-term lease, it’s best to notify your landlord in writing that you won’t renew. If you must break the lease and move out early, a notice won’t help. You will be obligated to settle the cost of finding another tenant or pay rent until another tenant is found.
Fix Things Up
Nobody wants to lose their security deposit, considering you’ll pay another deposit where you’re going. But you won’t be getting that money back if the landlord isn’t satisfied with the condition of their property.
It’s important to leave the property in good condition. That starts with cleaning the place and fixing the damages you have caused. It’s best to do a good job of fixing things up since your deposit is on the line unless all of that adds up to the deposit amount anyway.
Work on Your Utility Bills
You don’t want to leave behind unpaid bills. Pay off any arrears and arrange with your service providers to disconnect your services after you move and reconnect you in your new home.
To facilitate an easy transition, plan the dates so that the disconnection of services at the rental happens the day after the move and is reconnected a day before you move into your new property. That way, you won’t suffer interruptions.
Schedule an Inspection
Moving out without an inspection of the property in the presence of the landlord could be a recipe for problems. The back and forth over the phone is not a good idea, especially when there are things that need to be resolved.
For a smooth move-out process, schedule an inspection with the landlord or their representative at least a week before vacating the premises.
You want to ensure both parties are present and all discussions are done in person. That way, it would be easier to come to an understanding in case issues arise.
Arrange How You Move
The last thing on your checklist is the actual move. How do you plan on getting it done?
There are different ways you can go about the moving process, depending on your circumstances. If you intend to do the moving yourself, hire a moving truck, pack everything, and get help with loading and unloading.
Alternatively, you could hire a moving company to take care of the moving process.
Regardless of your chosen method, try making those arrangements early so everything goes smoothly.
Final Thoughts
Moving out can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. We encourage you to be thorough from the get-go, as that will help you avoid disputes with the landlord. The tips we’ve mentioned will definitely come in handy when ironing out your moving process.
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