Collect your keys

We'll arrange a time and a date for you to collect your keys. You'll also meet your neighbourhood officer who will explain your tenancy and answer any questions - including how to claim housing benefit.

Insure your possessions

We are not responsible for any loss or damage to your personal belongings - including damage to possessions caused by floods, fire and other unexpected incidents.

This is why it's important to insure the contents in your home. We can help: purchase home contents insurance today.

Financial help

We know that moving home can be costly. We may be able to help with moving expenses or furnishings by providing a start-up loan. Contact us on 0845 850 9571 to find out more.

Gas, electricity and phone lines

You'll find that the power to your new home has been cut-off for safety reasons. If you don't know your supplier contact:

• Transco for gas on 0870 608 1524
• Energi for electricity on 0800 195 0101.

Tip: make sure you've got the meter serial number written down when you call.

Contact us on 0845 850 9571 once you've been connected. We'll arrange for a contractor to visit and check everything is working well. We'll also give you advice on how to operate your heating appliances and issue a safety record.

You don't need to ask us if you want to put in a phone line - just go ahead and arrange it. You do need our permission to install a satellite dish.

Repairs

Your property should be in a good state of repair when you move in. We'll tell you if there's any outstanding repairs to be completed when you sign-up. If you find any problems report a repair.

Pets

You need to ask your neighbourhood officer for permission to keep a pet in your new home.

Tell people you've moved

• Friends and family
• Water supplier
• Electricity and gas supplier
• Council tax officer
• Bank.

Give notice

You'll need to give us 4 weeks written notice before you want to move out. This notice must end on a Monday. Send a notice letter to your local office and call us for any advice or information you need.

Are you a Places for People Individual Support tenant? Your support worker will tell you what to do if you want to leave your home and you've got a license instead of a tenancy.

Return your keys

You'll need to return all keys - including all meter box, outhouse and shed keys - to your local office before 12 noon on the day you leave. We'll charge you rent until we've got all the keys to the property.

Leave the property tidy

We'll make an appointment with you to visit before you move out. We'll also offer advice on how to leave the property clean, tidy and in a good condition. You should:

• Remove all furniture, carpets and personal items from your shed and garage (unless otherwise agreed)
• Leave all internal fittings such as doors, fires, light sockets and cooker points
• Ensure that nobody is living in your home when you move out. If there is they will be evicted and you'll be charged for our legal costs.

Let us know if you're disabled or ill and may struggle cleaning your home before moving out.

We're a green organisation and encourage recycling of furniture wherever possible. Try contacting your local charity shop as they may take unwanted furniture. Your local office may be able to put you in touch with someone. You can also ring the council refuse department and ask them to take away any rubbish or unwanted items. We'll charge you if you leave anything in the property or garden.

Tell your suppliers

Give notice to your gas, water and electricity providers. Make arrangements for final meter readings and payments. You should also:

• Turn off all taps including the stop tap if possible
• Inform the council tax office and the housing benefit office if you're claiming benefit.

Pay your rent

Have you paid all rent due? It may affect any future housing applications if you leave without paying rent you owe.

Passing your tenancy to someone else

Your tenancy will pass automatically to your partner if you die. This process is called succession. Your partner is defined as the person you live with - whether or not you're married - and includes same-sex partnerships.

Your tenancy can go to any relative who has been living with you for the last 12 months. They become a tenant with the same terms and conditions as your current agreement. We may ask them to consider moving to a more suitable property if the house is bigger than they need. A tenancy can't usually be passed on more than once.

Clearing the house if someone dies

Please tell your office if you're responsible for clearing a property when a relative or friend dies. You'll need to let us know when you'll be returning the keys - rent continues to be payable until these are handed in.
Your local office will be able to help and advise if you wish to pay any outstanding rent. Otherwise we'll claim this from the estate of the deceased.

If your friend or relative was getting housing benefit, this will end on the first Sunday after their death.

Contact us

Need more information about moving out? Give us a call on 0845 850 9571.