Moving out before the end of tenancy?

[MrsOnTheMove]

We have given 2 months notice that we will be moving out of our house at the end of the tenancy (mid Feb.) In the meantime we have found another house and secured it with a deposit and months rent, we are currently in the process of moving in furniture etc.

At the time of giving notice I did tell the letting agent that we may vacate early - due to numerous problems with the house. Our rent is up to date until end of tenancy, Last week I gave the agents 10 days written notice that we would be leaving next week and asked what they wanted to do about us handing back keys and the inventory. They have replied saying they will not be doing anything until mid Feb. - are we still responsible for utilities and council tax until then even though we are not living there? Does that mean we have to wait until the end of Feb. before we get our deposit back?

bump..

My sister had a similar situation CAB were v helpful. Can't remember exactly what they advised but it was something about once she 'surrendered the key' to the agents she was no longer responsible for the property. Might be worth going to see them?

You won't have to pay council tax twice - contact your local council office, it's easy to sort out. I think you are still liable for the standing charge for electricity, gas and water until the end of your tenancy.

Simple answer - yes. You are legally liable for bills until the last date of your tenancy regardless of whether you have moved out at an earlier date. The deposit will be returned within 14 days from the end of your tenancy. We moved out a fortnight before the end of a tenancy and posted the keys back to the letting agent via special delivery (they didn't want the keys back that far in advance). Meter readings shouldn't change too much on an empty house but I wouldn't run the risk of say burst pipes in this cold weather. And, you can be liable for more than one set of council tax - and as you don't own it, you cannot claim exemption for an unoccupied/unfurnished property. HTH

We have done this twice now - unfortunately you are still responsible for all bilson the old property until the end date of that tenancy. We found it useful to have the crossover, so that we could clean and put good the old property in our own time.

Take meter readings on the day you actually leave the property and again on the last day of the tenancy during the ispection - there should not be that much difference anyway. The reading from the last day of the tenancy are the readings that you need to provide the utility companies.

Re. the council tax - are you moving in the same council area? I think that some councils take account of any excess you have paid on one property and set it against the new property (don't forget that normally council tax is over 10 months not 12, so you are probably paid up for the year on the old property), and bill or refund the difference, rather that refunding the excess and expecting new payments for the new property. If that makes sense

You will probably be able to get the landlord to agree to you ending the tenancy sooner if they find new tenants. We did this with no problem in our last house. In London though, so no shortage of new tenants!

But otherwise the house is yours until the tenancy is up.

A Tenancy is a Contract, why would you think you would not be liable for the expenses? Anyway - if I were you I would insist on the letting agents keeping an appointment with you, to inspect the property before you vacate, and get it signed off with the inventory. This will protect you should your deposit be withheld. Take photos.

You are liable until the end. I would keep the heating on at least 10 degrees celsius in this weather - you don't want to lose your deposit because the pipes freeze on your watch!

On the council tax front I don't know English law but in Scotland you do not have to be the owner to claim exemption from the charge during the period that you are still liable but the property is vacant and unfurnished, you just need to contact your local office and complete the relevant form. As someone has also said above you will be paid up for this financial year already and this credit can be transferred to your new property or refunded - be sure to ask for this to happen as many councils will now only refund on request.

Agree with above, but just another point to make sure that you tell your LL or agent in writing the date you will stop residing at the property. The LL will have a clause in his/her insurance that the property can not be left unoccupied for more than x consecutive days. That is usually a clause put in your AST as well.

As long as you let them know that the house will be unoccupied you will be ok.