end of tenancy checklist for landlords

give or receive notice and confirm the tenancy end date. once notice to bring the tenancy to an end has been given, you should confirm the end of the tenancy in writing.

generally, the required notice period to end a tenancy depends on the type of tenancy and when and why the tenancy is coming to an end. this will likely be contained in your tenancy agreement.

if you are asking your tenant to leave the property, the date after which any tenant has to leave the property will typically be set out in an eviction notice.

if the tenant ends the tenancy, they will typically let you know when they plan to move out. ensure that the tenant provides you with written notice of when and why they are leaving the property. then, you should confirm their last date in the property, for example in a written letter or by email. 

be aware of what is considered a retaliatory or 'revenge' eviction. this occurs when a landlord tries to evict a tenant who has asked for repairs or complained about the condition of their home.

for assured shorthold tenancies (asts) that started or were renewed on or after 1 october 2015, a tenant cannot be evicted, unless their landlord proves they're at fault (eg because they didn't pay the rent) or the term of the tenancy has come to an end.

if your outgoing tenant has requested one, write a landlord reference letter. this can help a future landlord understand more about your experiences renting to this tenant before they themself choose to rent to them.

carry out an end-of-tenancy inspection. inspect the property together with your tenant and discuss any issues that need to be addressed before they move out. specifically consider:

• whether the property is clean

• whether there has been any damage

• whether all appliances still work and are safe to use

• any maintenance or repairs that need to be carried out

• whether the inventory reflects the state of the fixtures and furnishings in the property

• whether the fire alarms and carbon monoxide alarms still work

• signs of any damp or mould

• signs of pests

• whether any of the drains or gutters are blocked or broken

this type of inspection helps landlords and tenants alike, as tenants are more likely to receive their deposit back in full, while landlords need to do less property maintenance between tenancies.

it is advisable to carry out a first inspection a couple of weeks before the tenant moves out in case of the need for a second

if the property is not in satisfactory condition after inspection, give the tenant an opportunity to resolve it. 

if there is a dispute you can file your case with the tenancy deposit scheme to make a claim to use the deposit to resolve any issues. you will need to ensure you have any necessary evidence to support this claim.

you can only take money from the tenant deposit for good reason, for example, if they:

• owe rent

• have damaged the property (ie a spill on the carpet or a mark on the wall)

• have lost or broken items from the inventory

you cannot deduct from the deposit for fair wear and tear resulting from normal use.

release the deposit. after agreeing on and making any relevant deductions, release the deposit to the outgoing tenant within 10 days.

if you use a custodial deposit protection scheme, notify them that they need to release the money. if you use an insured scheme, you can pay the tenant and then must notify the scheme that you have released the deposit.