Are you thinking of moving out of your rental unit? While any relocation involves many quickly moving parts, moving out of a rental requires a bit of special attention. That means adding a few items to your moving to-do list.
After all, a landlord will be checking to make sure you leave the rental in an agreed-upon condition — and, of course, you want to get your full security deposit back. While each lease has its own specific requirements, these tips will help smooth your move from your rental.
Review Your Lease
Before making any moving decisions, review the terms of your lease or rental agreement. Here, you will find essential information about the terms you agreed to when you moved in.
These may include:
- How to end the lease
- The amount of notice you must give
- How to handle the transfer of utilities
- What condition you must leave the rental unit in
- Maintenance and repair obligations
Provide Vacate Notice
Once you know how much notice you must provide, let your landlord know that you’ll be moving out. While each contract is different, many require at least 30 days’ written notice.
That means you’ll need to write your landlord a letter within the specified timeframe. In most cases, your letter should include your specific moving date, your new address, a statement about the good condition of the rental unit, and that you want your deposit returned.
Assess Any Issues
Let’s face it: It’s almost impossible to live in a home without creating some wear and tear. But when you’re renting, landlords generally expect you to fix anything you break.
Most require you to leave the rental unit in the same state it was when you moved in. In addition, rental agreements often include a property condition report that details the rental’s condition at the start of your lease.
Before moving day, perform a walk-through of the space and identify any damage or potential problems. Then ensure you take care of any issues you’re responsible for under the terms of the lease. This may include:
- Patching or filling holes in the walls (including for hanging art)
- Repairing dents or scratches in the flooring
- Returning paint to original colors
- Fixing broken windows
- Making sure electrical systems, plumbing, appliances, lighting, and other fixtures function properly
Leave it Empty and Clean
After your belongings are loaded onto the moving truck, perform a final walk-through. Again, your goal is to make sure you’ve left nothing behind.
Don’t leave anything in the rental unit that wasn’t there when you moved in — and that includes nice items. Even if you think the next tenant will love that comfy couch or those glow-in-the-dark star stickers on the ceiling, you must take it all with you when you go.
Finally, leave your rental clean. Once you’ve got all your stuff out of the way, clean the entire unit. Start at the top and work your way down in each room. Clean from the ceiling to the floors and everything in between. The cleaner you can leave the unit, the better; landlords often charge high cleaning fees.
Schedule a final walk-through with your landlord. If they find any issues, ask if you can take care of them before funds are taken from your deposit.
Moving Made Easy
Following these tips can help make moving from your rental less stressful. In addition, we can help make it even easier. Contact us for a moving quote today.