MerthyrValleys H O M E S Quality Living Striving for Excellence Working Together Moving out How to end your tenancy Moving out Giving notice to end your tenancy Your tenancy conditions specify that you must give four weeks notice before you move out. If you are planning to move out of your home you should write to us giving the date when you wish to leave. To help you submit a valid Termination Notice, a simple form is available from our offices. If you contact us we can send one out to you. Call: 0800 085 7843 Email: [email protected] 2 We may agree to end the tenancy with a shorter period of notice if the following circumstances apply. If you think that any of these may apply to you, please contact us to discuss if further: f If you (or the tenant) are moving to a residential home f If you have been offered a tenancy by another council or housing association f If we could let the property within the notice period f If the tenant has died. If you move out without letting us know, we will charge you four weeks rent from the time we become aware that you have moved. Sometimes a tenant is unable to submit the appropriate Termination Notice due to health reasons. A relative can sign the Termination Notice on the tenant’s behalf if they have Power of Attorney, or if written confirmation is given by a doctor or social worker that the tenant is unable to return home. Moving out If a tenant cannot sign a Termination Notice If the tenant has died A simple form is available directly from us and from the wardens in our sheltered housing schemes, for relatives to let us know of the death of a tenant. Normally we would require four weeks notice to end a tenancy. However in these circumstances we will accept a minimum of one weeks notice. If the tenant received Housing Benefit you will also need to let Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council know about the death. Housing benefit will stop on the Monday following the death. 3 Moving out Inspection of the property We will normally visit you before the end of your tenancy to carry out an inspection of the home and to discuss any repairs or decoration we feel are needed before the keys are returned. We will inspect the property and compare it with the photographic evidence of the condition that the property was let to you. We are keen to relet properties with as little delay as possible. Therefore, it is important that you leave the property in a satisfactory condition. 4 A further inspection is carried out by the Area Housing Officer when the keys have been returned. If the required repairs or redecoration have not been completed we will send you an invoice for the work. You may be eligible for compensation for any improvements you have carried out. Please ask us for more details. Please leave the property in a clean and tidy condition. All belongings must be removed from the home, including all rubbish and furniture. Try not to damage the property or decorations when moving out. Remember, we will charge you if we have to remove any items left in the home (including in the garden, drive, garage and sheds), for any damage caused and for cleaning the property if it is left in a poor condition. Moving out Vacating the property Fixtures and fittings attached to the structure, for example kitchen units, doors, storage heaters and gas fires belong to us and must not be removed. If in doubt, check with us before moving out. You can take any household rubbish to the Waste Collection and Recycling Centres at The Bont, Dowlais and The Grove, Aberfan. 5 Moving out Returning the keys and paying your outstanding rent The Area Housing Officer will collect your keys before 12pm on the Monday your tenancy ends, providing you have previously submitted notice. If you have failed to submit notice you must return the keys at the office. You are also responsible for returning garage keys to the office. Our address is: Merthyr Valleys Homes Martin Evans House Riverside Court Avenue De Clichy Abermorlais Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8LD 6 If keys are returned after 12 noon, an extra weeks rent will be charged. You must also clear any balance outstanding on your rent account. If you do not know what to pay, please ask us when you return the keys. Please leave a forwarding address with us. Who else should I tell? You should also let the Council Tax Section at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council know so they can change their Council Tax records. If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit, you should also tell the council. If you have a telephone, you need to tell whoever supplied you with that service. You also need to make sure your TV licence moves with you. To transfer your licence to your new address, call TV Licensing on 0990 246 246, quoting CA4. You should ensure that you redirect any mail at the Post Office. Moving out If you paid your rent by Standing Order, you should notify your bank or building society so they can stop the payment. What about electricity, gas and water? You must not leave any bare wires or open gas pipes. For safety reasons, you should arrange for a qualified electrician or gas fitter to disconnect the cooker. Remember to turn off all services at the mains before you leave. Make sure you tell the company supplying your water, gas and electricity that you are moving. Take your own meter reading in case of any later dispute. Please tell us when sending in your Termination Notice the name and address of the utility suppliers. 7 Welsh: Os ydych eisiau’r wybodaeth hon mewn print mawr, Braille, ar dâp sain, neu mewn iaith arall, cysylltwch â ni ar 0800 048 8531. Portuguese: Se desejar esta informaçâo noutro idioma, é favor telefonar para 0800 048 8595. 0800 048 8589. Merthyr Valleys Homes Martin Evans House, Riverside Court, Avenue de Clichy, Abermorlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8LD Call: 0800 085 7843 Email: [email protected] www.mvhomes.org.uk Note: calls made from mobile phones to 0800 and 0845 numbers may cost more than your standard rate