ending your student housing tenancy agreement process

What Happens when I'm ready to Leave my Student Property?  

The time has come: you’ve just done your final revision session and have a make-or-break set of exams coming up. There’s a 10,000-word dissertation that needs to be printed out and handed in imminently and a sense that all the hard work you’ve put in throughout the year will give you that first or 2:1 you’ve craved since enrolling back in September.

Once all that’s out of the way, you’ll want to celebrate your efforts over the nine or 10 months you’ve spent studying hard. Then, you’ll want to head back home and spend some quality time with your family and friends you’ve missed for the the thick end of a year.

With coming home, there is something you’ll need to do at the end of each academic year: move out of your student property. Having got settled into your digs in Leeds, the thought of packing everything up is sure to fill you with dread, but what exactly is involved in moving out? We’re here to break down this surprisingly simple process into manageable chunks.

The end of your Tenancy

When you first signed your tenancy agreement with RentInc, you’ll have been given a copy of the paperwork involved. Find all of that, as it will come in handy for when you hand the keys back over to us. You’ll also need to set a date for when you move out; when you have one in mind, please let RentInc know beforehand so we can prepare everything on our side.

In the days leading up to your moving out, there are a few things you’ll need to do:

• Pack all your belongings - clothes, gadgets, toiletries, food, books, stationery etc.
• Clean your student property from top to bottom
• Make sure all the appliances that came with the property still work
• Have your keys to the property (plus any spare sets) ready to hand over
• All the paperwork - tenancy agreement, deposit and so on

Something else you’ll need to do is ensure that you have paid all of your rent in full. In doing so, you won’t be in arrears and you’ll be able to move into another property with us without any complications.

Keeping it Clean

On the face of it, cleaning your flat or house-share is arguably the most daunting part of moving out. However, to make sure that it’s ready and safe for the next tenants to move in, it’s something that must be done.

Fortunately, if you’re the type who regularly has the hoover and duster handy, cleaning at least once a fortnight, you won’t have too much to do. However, if a deeper clean is required at short notice, it’s best to set a few hours or even a whole day aside to make sure it’s looking as it did when you first opened the door.

The first step of getting the flat up to scratch is checking each room for such things as dust, stains, condensation, damp, fluff and clumps of hair. If in a flatshare, volunteer to take on a room of the property each before looking in every nook and cranny. To err on the side of caution, do another check in case someone has missed a little something.

At the end of checking, make a note, mental or otherwise, of each thing that needs to be cleaned. Then, you should get down to work, doing such tasks as:

• Vacuuming the floor and stairs
• Cleaning all the appliances - fridge, washing machine, dishwasher - either automatically or with an appropriate cleaning product
• Scrubbing the tiles in your bathroom, as well as the toilet and sinks
• Dusting and wiping any tables, cabinets, drawers and seating that need to be seen to

This might seem like a little too much hard work, but it’s worthwhile to get in the habit in case you need to move home again for whatever reason. Also, it shows that you can take care of a property and makes it easier for whoever moves into the property once you’ve left.

The Paperwork

Now that you’ve make the flat look as clean as ever, the next step in the moving out process is completing the paperwork. As is the case when you move into a student property with RentInc, you need to provide a few pieces of paperwork, although these are different. We will need the following:

• Council tax exemption form - this can be obtained from Leeds City Council, either online or at one of their offices in the city centre
• If applicable, proof of your final utility bills for gas, electricity and/or water

Something else you’ll need to do is check with your bank that your direct debit for paying rent ends as soon as you move out. This ensures that you won’t be out of pocket, although you must do this after you hand over the keys to us.

A copy of your tenancy agreement and proof of your deposit payment is also needed, as both provide ample proof that you have lived there and have been a good tenant. By having these, along with your council tax exemption form and your keys, this will make the whole process of leaving your property as smooth and uncomplicated as possible.

Ending a Student Tenancy Early

There are few circumstances where you may want or need to leave your property early. However, if you need to move away regardless of the circumstances while deep into your tenancy agreement, it is possible to terminate your stay in a RentInc student property with weeks or even months to spare.

To do so, you need to take these steps:

• Notify RentInc that you wish to end your tenancy early
• Find someone to take over your tenancy, whether you’re leaving a houseshare on your own, in a one-bedroom flat or are leaving with the rest of your housemates. This can be done by advertising your property through social media, placing posters across your university and word of mouth
• Get the new tenants in the property you’re leaving to go through the whole moving in procedure before you move out
• Wait for RentInc to add the new tenants to the contract; this won’t take too long

This whole procedure does cost £115, but is made to be as simple as possible. If you would like more information or are unsure about when to leave, feel free to get in touch with us before making a decision.

What Happens to my Deposit?

For many student tenants, the question of what happens to the deposit paid in order to secure a rental property is a big one. If you’re someone who wonders what happens, here is what you need to know:

Where Does it Go?

We look after your deposit, but it is safeguarded by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. This scheme ensures that your money is kept safe for us to pay it back to you as soon as your tenancy comes to an end.

Who is Responsible for it?

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme covers your deposit. To get in touch with them if you are having any issues in getting it back, their address is The Dispute Service Ltd. PO Box 541, Amersham, Bucks, HP6 6ZR. They can be called on 0845 226 7837 or emailed at [email protected].

How do I get my Deposit back?

To get your deposit back, you must get in touch with us towards the end of your tenancy. You must have your council tax exemption form with you. This will prove that you have lived in the property and have paid some money. If you’re not living in an all-inclusive student property, you’ll also need to have the most recent utility bill for gas, electricity and/or water as well.

How will I receive my Deposit? 

It will be paid into your account in the form of a BACS payment. Please note that such payments can take up to 14 days to be processed, once we have all the relevant paperwork from you. The payment itself will be in your account for up to five days after it has been processed by us.

Are there any Circumstances in which I cannot get my Deposit Back?