Tenant Moves Out

In most cases, the tenant will move out amicably. There are a few housekeeping items to consider before the next tenant moves in.

Meter Readings

Check all meter readings and ensure the outgoing tenant has notified the relevant gas, electricity and water suppliers. A landlord or agent could contact the suppliers directly to be sure.

Inventory and Deposit

Check the inventory ideally with the tenant present. If any necessary works are intended to be deducted from the deposit, it is far easier to get these agreed upon between the parties.

Any deposit should be returned in accordance with the tenancy agreement and the deposit scheme. If the tenant has asked for the deposit to be returned and you fail to do so within 10 days, the tenant may contact the deposit scheme and raise a dispute.

If the landlord needs more time to establish costs, you should communicate this.

If both parties have agreed to use the dispute resolution offered by a deposit scheme, an adjudicator will determine what amounts should be distributed between landlord and tenant.

Outstanding Bills

Where the tenant is responsible under the tenancy for paying bills, it is the tenant’s responsibility to deal directly with the appropriate supplier at the end of the tenancy. The tenant should pay all the final bills.

If a tenant fails to pay all bills, the landlord may deduct from the deposit, but only if the tenancy terms allow the deposit to be used this way and only if the tenant has no genuine grievance with the supplier regarding the amount payable.