Are you moving out soon? Or are you a landlord who has a tenant vacating your property soon? 

Regardless, there are plenty of things to get done before the move-out is officially completed. 

If you’re wondering what to do when tenancy ends, you’ve come to the right place! With a final move-out cleaning, bond refunding, property inspection, etc. – there’s so much to do! 

It’s important to have both the landlords and the tenants work together to 

make the process as seamless as possible. 

1. Showing The Property To Prospective New Tenants

The situation: 

As one tenant moves out, another one will move in. Before someone new takes up the home, they need to have a walkthrough of the property first – and this often happens while the old tenant is still living in the house. 

What the landlord should do:

Landlords should always get the tenant’s permission before showing the house to someone. 

What the tenant should do:

Tenants should be accommodating towards the landlords’ need to show their property. One good way to do so would be to give the landlords tentative times during the week when the landlord can schedule the showing. These hours should be during the day as that is usually when people go to look at homes. 

2. Cleaning The Home When Tenancy Ends

The situation: 

Homes must be cleaned before handing over the house to the landlord. 

What the landlord should do:

The landlord should clearly tell the tenant what their cleaning requirements are from the tenant before they move in – and should remind them of this as the tenancy ends. 

What the tenant should do:

A messy and unclean house is the most common reason for bond deductions. If the tenant wants their bond back in full, they should ensure that the house is as clean as possible. 

Here are a few areas that should be covered:

  • Get carpeting and upholstery steam cleaned to rid them of dirt and stains. 
  • Ensure there are no grease stains in the kitchen and that all appliances have been left in good working condition.
  • Ensure that no damages are made to any of the landlord’s property, and if there are, try to get it fixed before the final inspection date. 
  • Treat the home for insects, bedbugs and other critters. After all, no one wants to move into a house with bugs everywhere! 
  • Go through a move-out cleaning checklist and tick off all the tasks on there. If there is very little time or some confusion surrounding what to do when a tenancy ends, then the tenant can always hire a professional cleaning service to handle the job.

3. The Property Inspection

The situation: 

Before a landlord agrees to refund the deposit or bond in full, they will need to conduct a thorough property inspection. 

The best time to schedule this is once all of the tenant’s belongings are out of the home, well in advance of the final day of the tenant’s lease. 

This ensures that the process is not stressful and any fixes, etc., can be done well before the new tenants move in. 

What the landlord should do:

The landlord should ensure that they take the time to discuss an appropriate time to conduct the inspection. They should also be understanding of general wear and tear that occurs at the house during a tenancy. 

What the tenant should do:

Tenants should ideally take photos of the property when they move in – and also once they clean up the home and remove their belongings. 

4. Returning The Bond To The Tenant

The situation: 

Landlords collect bonds from tenants as insurance for property damage caused by the tenant during their lease period. 

Once all is said and done, the landlord must refund the bond amount to the tenant.

What the landlord should do:

Once the final inspection is over, the landlord should return the bond – without making any wrongful or unnecessary deductions. Also, they should provide the tenant with a refund form detailing the date, payment method and information regarding deductions made to the bond (if any) – and make signed copies for themselves and their tenants.

What the tenant should do:

Tenants must take care of the property while they live there and should inform the landlord if any damages have occurred during their tenancy. This will help avoid misunderstandings when the tenancy ends.

They should ensure that the refund form provided to them has the landlord’s signature on it as well. 

5. Helpful Tips on What to do When Tenancy Ends

The situation: 

If the tenant has any hope of getting good references from their landlord – and if the landlord hopes to get referrals from the tenant, then these points are important to note. 

Several issues can crop up during the move-out process, so to avoid anything untoward from happening, here are a few helpful tips for you!

What the landlord should do:

  • Negotiate a move-out time that works for both parties. 
  • Email or give the tenant a note detailing any dues they still have to pay – this includes pending rent, damages etc. 
  • Bring along copies of the lease agreement, rent breakup etc., to the final inspection. 
  • If the tenant has left behind some personal belongings, ensure they are returned to them as soon as possible. 

What the tenant should do:

  • Have all important documents well-organised so that they can be provided if needed. This includes rent payment records, communications between both parties, lease, property inspection records etc. 
  • Pay the landlord anything owed promptly and provide receipts. 
  • Take note of the meter reading of the electricity and water consumed on the last day of living in the house (in case the tenant pays for it separately from the rent). 
  • Cancel or move the address of any services subscribed (done by the tenant) for the property (ex: internet connections). 
  • Don’t leave any belongings behind. 
  • Ensure that the home is cleaned properly and that all the junk is appropriately removed from the property.
  • Return house keys to the landlord. 
  • Provide the landlord with a forwarding address in case they receive any mail, orders etc., for the tenant.