Move-out Checklist for Tenants

If a tenant is hanging around, they are delaying the next tenants from moving in. In the rental world, time is money, and in real estate, time is gold. The earlier a renter vacates, the better a landlord may prep the premises for another renter. A move out checklist for renters facilitates the process of moving out, makes it much  easier for landlords to detect any necessary repairs, and informs tenants as to whether their whole security deposit will be repaid.  It can help to identify problems in the property or it can simply be a tick sheet so that the tenant takes what is theirs and leaves what’s not. 

As a renter, there are additional considerations you must take into account when handing over your keys. This moving out checklist gives an overview of what you need to accomplish before you leave.

Tenant Move-Out Checklist:

1. Don’t forget to notify your utility providers that you’ll be leaving, and also submit the metre reading to end your account once you’ve signed out. It is important to verify that the services will not be terminated until specifically instructed to do so by the landlord.

2. To get the full amount of your security deposit returned, you need to guarantee that the rental property is in the same state that it was in when you first moved in. Maintain order in the property by tidying every room and keeping the lawn neat and tidy. Once you exit the property, secure all the doors and windows and switch off all the appliances. Check the inventory that was provided to you at the beginning of your tenancy that includes the property’s condition as well as any furnishings that were there at the onset of the lease.

3. You must inform your landlord of your intention to quit your tenancy at least two months in advance. In most cases, you must file one month’s notice before moving out of a periodic lease, however in fixed term agreements, you must pay your mortgage until the term of your contract, unless your landlord agrees to cancel your tenancy early.

Checklists can assist renters to get their refundable security deposit repaid in full, from their perspective. By giving a tenant a move-out checklist, a landlord can save time and money ensuring that the property is ready for the next homeowner.