Landlords - What to Do at the End of Tenancy

The end of a tenancy is often a busy time for a landlord, as there are several things to take care of. Not only do you need to wrap up your tenancy with your current tenants, but you’ll also have to prepare the property and necessary paperwork for the next ones.

Below, you’ll find a checklist of what to do when the end of the tenancy comes around. If this is the first time you're concluding a tenancy, it’s crucial to ensure you don’t miss any critical steps. On the other hand, if you have ended many tenancies before, you might find a tip or two to optimize the process and cut down on some of your workloads.

Let’s dive in!

Confirming the End of Tenancy
If you’re ending a tenancy, you must give your tenants notice. Usually, this becomes due a month before the end of their tenancy, but this depends on the agreement you have in place. Even if the tenancy was contracted to only last for a set period, it is good to check in with your tenants to ensure they get ready.

Confirm critical dates such as when tenants will be moving out and when they’ll be paying their last month of rent. It’s a good idea to discourage them from paying the previous month alongside their security deposit. You’ll need to make deposit deductions if there is any damage to the property.

Completing the End of Tenancy Inspection
The most important task at the end of any tenancy is property inspection. During which you will see if any deductions to the safety deposit will need to be made. It’s a good idea to schedule a review a few weeks before the end of the tenancy.

This gives tenants a chance to make repairs or clean the home where it is most necessary. After all, they don’t want to lose the deposit any more than you want to pay out for repairs. It also means there would be less for you to do between tenancies.

What to Check During the Inspection
During your end of tenancy inspection, pay close attention to:

  • Signs of damp or mould
  • Blocked or broken drains and gutters
  • Significant marks or stains that go beyond the expected wear and tear
  • Problems with electrics or appliances
  • Signs of pests or leaks
  • Faulty smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors
  • Meter readings


End of Tenancy Check Out
After your tenants move out, you will need to complete another property inspection to see what needs to be done before your next tenants move in. This is also called the end-of-tenancy check out form or check-out report, which can be completed by you, your letting agent or an independent inventory clerk. This inspection aims to check the property's condition against that of the initial check-in report.

Conclude Tenancies Smoothly with an End-of-Tenancy App
Keeping track of the condition of your properties and every fixture and appliance within them can be tedious work. It’s easy to miss something or to fail to record some detail, resulting in more work or even losses. An end-of-tenancy app like reports2go can help you streamline the inventory process and organize your observations.

Check out the Reports2Go app on our website today to learn more and sign up for free.

Gary, 10 June 2022
Landlords - What to Do at the End of Tenancy

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