Ending your tenancy

To end your tenancy, you must give Hightown at least four weeks notice in writing stating that you wish to end your tenancy. Please contact the Lettings team if you need help with this.

All tenancies must end on a Sunday, this means that we will count the four weeks notice period from the Sunday after we receive your letter. When we receive your written notice we will write to you to confirm the date your tenancy will end. We will also talk to you about any works that you need to do before you leave and your rent payments.

Keys and parking permits must be returned to Hightown by 10am the next working day after the tenancy ends. This is usually a Monday, unless it is a bank holiday. 

Before you move on to your new home, it is essential that you make sure that the home you rent from Hightown is left in a good condition.

End of tenancy forms

To end your tenancy you will need to complete and return a form.

Please contact us 01442 292300 to request an end of tenancy form to be sent to you.

 

Moving home checklist

The checklist below will help you make sure you have done all you need before handing back your keys to Hightown. 

Gas, electric and water
  • Read your utility (gas/electric/water) meters when you leave the property and give the readings to your supplier. 
  • Tell all of your utility suppliers that you are moving.
  • Check there are no debts on the meters.
  • Give details of your utility suppliers (gas/electric/ water) to your Lettings Officer.
  • Please leave boiler manuals.
  • Remove or rectify any particularly poor decorations, such as torn wallpaper.
  • If you have changed any of the standard light fittings, switches or sockets, these need to be changed back to the original fittings. Please check with your Property Services Inspector if you are unsure whether you need to replace any of them.
  • Remove all appliances unless they have been supplied by Hightown, and make sure any gas or plumbing fittings which are connected to your appliances are capped off by qualified tradesperson.
Clear and tidy
  • If you have a private garden please clear and tidy it. 
  • Clear the cupboards and loft spaces.
  • Clean vinyl floor coverings in kitchens and bathrooms. 
  • Remove all other floor coverings (including any underlay and grippers that have been fitted) unless they were supplied by Hightown.
  • Empty the bins.
  • Replace broken or missing plugs and chains to sinks, basins or baths.
  • Replace any damaged windows.
  • Restore any alterations you have made to their original condition.
  • Replace any missing or damaged door stops.
  • Remove any shelves, pictures, curtains, curtain poles etc. 
  • Repair any holes in walls e.g. from shelves or pictures you have put up (remove the wall plugs and fill the holes). The walls should be left in a smooth paintable condition.
  • Repair or replace any damaged kitchen units, fences, bath panels or doors etc.
  • Clean the property thoroughly including cupboards, kitchen units and bathrooms and any mould on walls, ceilings and around windows
Let people know
  • Contact the Royal Mail to redirect your post (we do not hold on to your mail after the keys are returned to us).
  • If you claim benefits, contact them to tell them you are moving.
  • Contact the Council Tax section of the local authority and let them know you are moving.
Pay your rent
  • Make sure your rent account is clear.
  • Pay off any recharges you owe.

Returning your keys

Once you have done all of the above, return all keys for the property (including window keys, shed/gate keys, gas cards/keys and electric meter keys) to Hightown House before 10 am on the Monday directly after your tenancy ends. If you can’t deliver them by hand, please send them by recorded delivery. If keys are not received before the deadline, the weekly rent will continue to be charged until we receive the keys.

Please note, if we have to undertake any works that are your responsibility after you have returned the keys, the cost of these works will be recharged to you. Administration fees also apply in these cases.

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