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Ending Your Tenancy
What should I do if I want to end my tenancy?
You have to give us at least four weeks notice that you intend to end your tenancy. You can do this in various ways:
- You can write to us at: Berneslai Homes, PO Box 627, Barnsley, S70 9FZ. Write a letter that tells us when your tenancy will end and what your new address will be.
- You can email us at: homeseker@berneslaihomes.co.uk .
- You can phone us on 01226 775555. We will then complete a form on your behalf and write to you to confirm all the information you have given us.
- You can visit your local Barnsley Connects Office and our staff will help you complete the form.
- You can download, complete and return our Notice to end a tenancy form.
What happens after I have given notice?
- When you give us notice we will tell you exactly when your tenancy will end and when you have to hand the keys in.
- If you give us less than four weeks notice we have the right to charge you rent up until the end of your tenancy (the end of the four week notice time). We will do this even if you have moved out of the property and given us back your keys.
- We can agree a shorter notice time. But, we will only agree to this in special circumstances, for example, if the tenant has died, or if you are transferring to another Barnsley Council property.
- We can allow you to extend your notice time in certain circumstances, for example, if your new home is not ready. But, you must tell us that you want to extend your notice before your tenancy ends (the date we agreed when you gave notice). If you do not extend your notice and your tenancy ends we do not legally have to let you stay in the property.
- We may contact you to arrange to inspect your home to ensure that the property is in a good condition and that you have not caused any wilful damage.
When will my tenancy end?
Your tenancy will always end on a Sunday, despite what day of the week you tell us that you want to end your tenancy. For example:
- If you give notice on Wednesday, we will count four weeks from the following Sunday of that week.
If you give notice before 12 noon on a Monday, we will work out your four weeks notice from the Sunday (the day before).
What rent do I have to pay?
When you end your tenancy you have to pay rent up to and including the Sunday on which your tenancy ends. As you pay your rent a week in arrears you will owe an extra week at the end of your tenancy.
If you hand the keys in later than 12 noon on Monday (the day after your tenancy ends), we will charge you another weeks rent.
Where do I take my keys?
You should take all your keys to your local Barnsley Connects office. We do not recommend that you post your keys to us. But if you have no other option, you must use recorded delivery as proof that you have sent them. If your keys get lost in the post and you cannot prove you have posted them, we will charge you with the cost of:
- changing the locks; and
- putting right any other damage that may occur as a result of us not having the keys.
Remember to either put a letter or a label on the keys so that we know which property they are for.
How have I got to leave the property?
When you leave your home you have to make sure that:
- you leave it clean and tidy (this include the decorations)
- you remove any furniture, carpets or rubbish
- you cut back and clear the garden.
If you have damaged our property, either by removing your own fittings or while you were living in your home, you have to make it good.
We will charge you for the cost of any work we have to do that includes:
- clearing and cleaning the property
- decorating the property
- putting right any damage
- replacing fittings that you had no right to take.
If you leave any of your belongings in the property, we will dispose of them. We will charge you with the cost of this work.
When you tell us you want to end your tenancy, we will tell you the current hourly charge for clearing out a property.
What about disconnecting my gas cooker or own fire?
You can take your own cooker out of the property, but you must for ask our permission before you remove a gas fire that you installed yourself. We may refuse you permission, if it leaves the property in a poorer condition than when you moved in.
For your own and your neighbours safety, you must make sure that any gas cooker or fire which belong to you, are removed by a CORGI registered gas contractor. The supply pipes must be sealed after the appliance has been removed.
If you do not leave the gas supply properly sealed we will charge you with the full cost of us carrying out the work. You could also be liable to legal proceedings under the Gas Safety Regulations, which carries a maximum fine of £400.
What about any improvements I have carried out during my tenancy?
If you have had our permission to make alterations or improvements to your property, you must leave them in the property. In certain instances we may agree that the new fitting can be removed and the original reinstated.
We will charge you if we need to remove or change any of your own alterations before we let the property again.
Can I get compensation for any improvements?
If you end your tenancy and move out you may be able to get compensation for certain improvements. This depends upon:
- what type of improvement it is (see below)
- when the work was carried out
- if you still have the receipts for the work
- if we gave you permission to do the work.
You must apply for compensation within 14 days of your tenancy ending. You must apply in writing to Berneslai Homes, Stock Maintenance Team, PO Box 627, Berneslai Homes, Barnsley, S70 9FZ. If you are entitled to compensation, we will work out what we pay you by following government guidelines. This is based on the expected (notional) life of the improvement, the cost and the actual age of the improvement. If the improvement is older than the notional life, you will not be able to claim for it.
What improvement qualifies and how old can it be for me to claim?
| What qualifies? | You can claim if it's less than... |
| Bath or Shower | 12 years old |
| Wash hand basin | 12 years old |
| Toilet | 12 years old |
| Kitchen Sink | 10 years old |
| Storage cupboards in bathroom or kitchen | 10 years old |
| Work surfaces for food prepartion | 10 years old |
| Water and Central Heating systems | 12 years old |
| Thermostatic radiator valves | 10 years old |
| Insulation of pipes, water tank or cylinder | 10 years old |
| Loft insulation | 20 years old |
| Cavity wall insulation | 20 years old |
| Draught proofing of external doors or windows | 8 years old |
| Double glazing or other external window replacement or secondary glazing | 20 years old |
| Rewiring or the provision of power and lighting or other electrical fittings (including smoke detectors) | 15 years old |
| Any object which improves the security of the home, but excluding the burglar alarms | 10 years old |
Do I have to read my electric, gas or water meters?
Your are responsible for reading the gas, electricity or water meters before you leave the property. You must tell your suppliers:
- the date you are leaving the property
- the reading of your meter
- your forwarding address
- We will only pay for gas, electric and water from the date your tenancy ends. If the supplier asks us for your forwarding address, we will give it to them.
What about my post?
You should also arrange with Royal Mail at a Post Office to redirect your mail to your new address. We will not forward any letters to you at your new address.
We will not tell the new tenant your forwarding address.
Do I turn off the water, gas or electricity?
You must turn off the:
- gas and electricity supplies at the meter
- the water at the stop tap.
If you are leaving the property during the winter months, after you have turned the water off at the stop taps, turn the kitchen and bathroom hot and cold taps on. Remember to leave the plug out of the sink or bath.
This will drain all the water out of the tank, which will help prevent any damage if the pipes freeze.
Do you inspect my home before or after I hand the keys in?
We inspect your home before you move out. When you give us notice that you want to end your tenancy, we will arrange an appointment for an Impact Officer to call at your home. The reason we inspect your property is to:
- make sure that you have all the information you need
- check your home for any damage
- tell you what work you may have to do before you leave your home.
The same day you hand your keys in we will fully inspect your property. If we find any damage or the property and gardens are untidy we will try to contact you. We will give you the option of:
- returning to the property and putting things right within an agreed time scale
- allow us to do the work and recharge you.
You will be charged for any extra weeks you have the keys back in your possession. This will be equal to the rent you would have paid.
If we cannot contact you or you do not respond to us, we will carry out the work and recharge you.
If you owe a debt for rechargeable repairs.
- we can prosecute you if you do not pay
- we and other social landlords, may reject any future rehousing applications from you.
Will you find a new tenant for my property before I move out?
After you have told us you intend to end your tenancy, we will start looking for a new tenant who can move into your property as soon as possible after your tenancy has ended. This may mean that we offer your property to someone on our Housing Register while you are still the tenant. Obviously, if your circumstances change and we allow you to withdraw your notice, we will withdraw this offer.
On some occasions we may need to arrange with you to allow these people to come and look at your home.
More advice?
For further information and advice you can contact your local Barnsley Connects Office on telephone 01226 775555.
Useful leaflets
The following leaflets can be can picked up from any Barnsley Connects Office or can be downloaded.