Moving Out of a Rental Checklist

The end of a tenancy is where deposits are won and lost, and most of what decides the outcome happens in the fortnight before you hand back the keys. Giving notice correctly, cleaning to the standard the property was in when you arrived, recording its condition on the day, and taking final meter readings all take a little planning — and none of them can be done retrospectively. Use this checklist in the weeks before you leave and on the day itself.

Start a month before you go

Get the notice right first. Check your agreement for how much notice you must give, in what form, and whether it has to expire on a particular day. Serving notice incorrectly can leave you liable for rent beyond the date you intended to leave, which is an expensive mistake. Put it in writing even where the agreement allows verbal notice, and keep proof that you sent it.

  • Three to four weeks out: serve notice, book any professional cleaning, and start dealing with anything you agreed to put right.
  • Final week: repair what you can reasonably repair, remove everything you own including from lofts and sheds, and arrange mail redirection.
  • On the day: photograph and video every room in daylight, read every meter, and hand back all keys with a written record of how many.

The standard you are held to is the condition recorded at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear. You are not expected to return the property in better condition than you found it, and normal wear from ordinary living is not a deductible cost. That is why your own dated photographs matter — they are what you will use if a deduction is proposed for something that was already there.

Give the landlord a forwarding address in writing. Disputes are much harder to resolve when correspondence goes to an address you no longer live at.

Before you leave

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On moving day

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After you leave

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Helpful organisations

Shelter

Charity

A housing charity providing advice and support for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.

Visit website0808 800 4444

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Government

Government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme that safeguards deposits and resolves disputes.

Visit website

Citizens Advice

Charity

Provides free, confidential, and independent advice on a wide range of issues including benefits, housing, debt, and employment.

Visit website0800 144 8848

Frequently asked questions

What counts as fair wear and tear?
Deterioration that follows from ordinary use over the length of your tenancy — carpets thinning in high-traffic areas, minor scuffs on paintwork, and general fading. Landlords cannot charge you to put the property into better condition than it was when you moved in, and adjudicators apply a reduction for the age and expected life of items. Damage is different: a burn, a large stain or a broken fitting goes beyond wear. Longer tenancies attract more allowance for wear, not less.
Do I have to pay for professional cleaning?
Only if the property is dirtier than it was at check-in. A clause requiring professional cleaning regardless of condition is generally unenforceable, and a blanket charge is a common deduction to challenge. What matters is the comparison with the check-in inventory. Clean thoroughly yourself, photograph the result, and keep any receipt if you do pay for cleaning. If a professional clean was clearly carried out before you moved in, note that in your evidence.
Can my landlord keep the deposit for unpaid rent?
Yes, genuine rent arrears are a legitimate deduction, as are unpaid utility bills you were responsible for and the cost of repairing damage beyond fair wear and tear. What they cannot do is deduct without evidence or explanation. Ask for an itemised breakdown with receipts or quotes for every proposed deduction. If you dispute any of it, the deposit scheme's free adjudication service will decide, and the burden is on the landlord to justify each item.
What if the landlord wants me to leave before my notice expires?
You are entitled to stay until the tenancy properly ends, and you cannot be required to go earlier simply because it suits the landlord or a new tenant. If you agree to leave early, get the agreement in writing including confirmation that rent stops on that date. Being pressured out, having viewings forced on you at unreasonable times, or facing threats about your deposit is harassment — contact your council's tenancy relations team and Shelter.

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Disclaimer

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check official sources and seek qualified help where needed.