Ending your Tenancy and Void Works - what happens

When a tenant decides to move to a new home and ends their tenancy there are various steps that take place to allow this to go smoothly, both for the outgoing and incoming tenant.

Once written notice has been received from the outgoing tenant the first thing that happens is that the Maintenance Manager visits that tenant in the first week of the notice period.  A survey of the house is carried out and any repairs, maintenance or redecorating that the leaving tenant is responsible for is noted and agreed on the End of Tenancy Form. 

The house must be left in a fully letable condition regardless of the condition when they moved in.  A leaving tenant is expected to leave the house fully cleaned, clear of any rubbish etc. and with the decorating to a suitable standard for the new tenant.

Any items or fixtures you have fitted may have to be removed and the house put back into its original condition.  Any items you own like flooring, light fixtures and garden sheds that are taking are noted, as are any suitable items that you may choose to leave.  This could include curtains curtain rods, carpets, light fixtures etc.  Sometimes good condition flooring or appliances or a garden shed can be sold to the new tenant.

Usually on the last Friday of your tenancy the Maintenance Manager will arrange to visit again to check and make sure that all work agreed to has been done satisfactorily and to pick up a set of keys.  We will also take meter readings and collect a forwarding address.

PLEASE NOTE: If the work agreed to has not been done or is to a poor standard then a recharge for the work necessary to bring the house up to a letable condition will apply.  It is the responsiblity of the outgoing tenant to leave the house clean, clear and tidy and fit to move into.

Once the property is empty we carry out various void works before a new tenant moves in.

If there is gas in the property then a void gas safety check is done.  This is only to make sure the gas installation is safe, it is not a service to the boiler.  A full electrical test is performed, to make sure that all the electrical system is safe and functioning properly.  Any illegal wiring alterations would be picked up and removed or repaired at this time. 

We change the toilet seat(s) as well as changing the entrance door locks.  Also during this time we do any catch up repairs that are the responsibility of the Association, but were not reported by the previous tenant before they moved out.  This is to allow the new tenant to move into as problem free home as possible.  If we do miss something, this will be taken care of under our normal day to day repairs system.

Sometimes if there are some minor decorations needed the new tenant will be given a decorating voucher at prescribed amounts depending on which room(s) are affected.

When the Housing Manager visits the new tenant to sign them up then at that time any decorating allowance would be given along with the keys to the property.  They will ask the new tenant to sign for these as well as to sign acceptance for any items the outgoing tenant has agreed to leave.

Meter readings will be taken and passed on.

We expect a property to be void for no more than two weeks.