A Tenant Moving Out

If a tenant is vacating his / her rental premises, the moving process can be made smooth and without stress, simply by following a few uncomplicated steps, as under:

1. Notice: Before moving out, a tenant needs to notify his / her landlord of the intention to do so. It is important to check the lease or rental agreement to see how much notice is required. For a lease that is expiring, no notice has to be given, however it is always best to discuss your departure date with the landlord. In case, there is no lease, check the landlord / tenant laws of your state and city to find out how much notice should be given. Typically, 20 to 30-days is what is required, which means if you wait till the last minute, you might end up paying an extra month’s rent.Always, give the notice in writing, which should be either personally delivered or sent by certified mail.
2. Cleaning Up: Scour and clean out your apartment thoroughly, in order to make it easier to get your security deposit back. The place should as clean as when you moved in, excluding ‘normal wear and tear’ which is expected. Carry out repairs for any damages that you might be responsible for, because if you don’t, the landlord will deduct the cost from your security deposit, including cleaning costs if you leave the place a mess.Check out the place against the checklist done when you moved in to verify everything is in the same condition. It would be best if your landlord walked through the rental property before you leave, but in case it is not possible, deposit the keys in an envelope along with a note that contains your forwarding address, and deliver the same to your landlord. Ensure you have a copy of your note and that there is a witness to the fact that you did, indeed deliver the keys.
3. Security Deposits: Security deposits as per state laws are to be returned usually within two or three weeks of a tenant’s moving out. A landlord is required to either return the security deposit or put in writing his / her reason for not doing so. Landlords are permitted to deduct reasonable expenses for cleaning and repairing damages or for any unpaid utility bills. In case, a tenant feels his / her security deposit has been unreasonably withheld, the matter can be settled in a small claims court.
4. Moving Out Before Lease Expires: Moving out before a lease expires is a matter that should be negotiated with your landlord, especially if it is absolutely necessary and cannot be avoided. You can ask your landlord, whether sub-letting is an option for the remainder of the lease. Or else, your landlord can ‘mitigate the damages’ by finding another tenant to replace you.

Adhering to the above four steps should ensure you get back a part of your security deposit, including acquiring a decent landlord reference.

Landlords, should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting a lease, and must take all necessary precautions, such as, screening tenants and conducting background checks on prospective tenants, including ensuring all promises in the rental lease are adhered to, as their insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!