Your Tenancy

Tenancy Services

How to end a Council Tenancy

This information will help Homes for Islington tenants who are considering ending their tenancy do so in the correct manner. If you are in any doubt, or need further guidance, please contact the Tenancy Management Adviser at your local Area Housing Office.

If you are ending a tenancy because the tenant has died please go the the death of a tenant page.

Thinking about ending your tenancy?
People decide to give up their tenancy and give the keys to their home back to Homes for Islington for a variety of different reasons. Giving up your tenancy is a very important decision and should not be taken lightly.

If you give up your council tenancy altogether you may never get a secure tenancy again. If you are considering giving up your home because you are struggling to pay your rent, are having problems at home or are not sure where you are going to move to, you should seek advice from your local area housing office or seek independent legal advice. Homes for Islington tenants can access free, independent legal advice through the Independent Advice Project.

What to do if you are ending your tenancy
The tenancy agreement you signed when you were given the keys to the home is a legal contract and in order to end the tenancy you must:

Give Homes for Islington four weeks written notice
Ensure your home is clean, tidy and fit to re-let to somebody else
Pay any outstanding rent or other charges
Hand the keys into your local Housing Office

Give Homes for Islington four weeks written notice
As stated in your tenancy agreement we need at least four weeks written notice that you are ending your tenancy, starting on a Monday and ending on a Sunday.

If you are transfering from your current home to another Islington Council property you do not have to give us four weeks notice.

You are asked to give your written notice by completing the Notice of Termination of Tenancy form (this can be collected from or posted to you by your local area housing office). It is important you complete this form in full, giving us your forwarding address and contact information in case we need to contact you after you have moved out.

We will confirm receipt of your notice by writing to you. One of our New Tenant Liaison Officers will make arrangements to visit you at home to talk to you about the process of moving to make sure it runs as smoothly as possible.

Please note:

• If you move out without giving HFI four weeks written notice you will be charged a minimum of four weeks rent, this could be more if it takes us longer to regain possession of your home.
• Handing in the keys without giving HFI written notice does not end your tenancy and you will continue to be charged full rent.
• Handing in your keys during the four week notice period will not end your tenancy any earlier and you will be charged rent until the end of the four week notice period.

Ensure your home is clean and tidy, and fit to re-let to somebody else
You need to make sure your home, balcony or garden and any storage spaces are clean, tidy and in good condition before you move out. You must also remove all your personal belongings and any rubbish before returning your keys.

If you leave your property clean and clear of belongings and in good condition you could be eligible to a payment of £150 through our Just Rewards scheme.

If you have bulky items of rubbish, unwanted furniture or white goods you wish to dispose of you can get more information from our Bulk Refuse fact sheet.

Please note:

• Homes for Islington will not be responsible for anything you leave in the property when you move out.
• You will be recharged £290 if Homes for Islington have to:
  • Remove and dispose of any lumber (your unwanted personal belongings, carpets, laminate flooring or rubbish) from your home
  • Have to clean your property.
• You will be recharged the full cost to Homes for Islington if we have to:
  • Repair or replace any of the fixture and fittings in your home which have been damaged or are missing when you move out.
• There is more information on recharges when you move out in our Just Rewards scheme. You can also ask for advice from the New Tenant Liaison Officer at your local area housing office.

Pay any outstanding rent or other charges
Your rent account must be cleared before your tenancy ends.

If you are claiming Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you must inform them that you are moving out. When you move out your housing and council tax benefit will stop immediately. If your tenancy has not formally ended you will continue to be charged full rent and could incur unwanted debt. For more advice about your housing benefit claim contact Housing Benefits.

If you are not able to clear your rent arrears before you move out contact the Income Recovery Officer at your local area housing office to discuss how you can afford to pay back the amount owed after you leave.

If your tenancy has already ended and you have outstanding rent arrears, please contact the Former Tenants Section on 020 7527 7006 to discuss the options available for repaying them.

Please note:

• If you owe any rent when you move out you will not be entitled to your Just Rewards payment.
• If you leave without clearing your rent arrears and make no arrangement to repay them with us we will make every effort to trace you using debt collection agencies if appropriate and may seek a Court Order against you. If the Court grants us a Court Order against you, you will be liable to pay our Court costs and you will find it more difficult to access credit in the future.
• Homes for Islington does not want you to get into debt. If you are having problems paying your rent or paying off rent you owe from a previous tenancy with us please contact us as we want to help you sort out the problem. You can find out more about the help we can offer

Hand the keys into your local Housing Office
You must hand two full sets of keys into the reception area at your local area housing office. This is so your tenancy can be formally ended without you incurring any extra costs.

The receptionist will give you a receipt for the keys. Make sure it has the date and time on it and keep it safe as it is proof you have handed in your keys.

The keys you hand in should include all door and window keys to your home, any fob or communal keys and any keys to any store cupboards.

If you have any gas or electricity keys or cards please leave these behind in the property.

Please note:

• Your keys must be handed into reception before 12pm on the Monday following the end of your tenancy. If your keys are received any time after this you will be charged another full week’s rent.
• If you do not return your keys when you move out you will not be eligible to your Just Rewards payment.

For any further information about ending your tenancy and moving out please contact the New Tenant Liaison Officer at your area housing office.