If you don’t do this, your notice may not be accepted and you will still need to pay rent, even if you have left the property.
Named tenants are responsible for paying rent at their property until their tenancy is officially terminated.
When you want to end your tenancy you will need to let us know in writing at least 4 weeks in advance. The date your tenancy ends must be a Monday.
To end your tenancy, you will need to:
1. Download, print and complete the notice to terminate form (PDF 144KB). If you cannot use the form, email HousingEnquiries@leeds.gov.uk.
2. If you receive council tax support, tell us that you are moving.
3. Return the completed form to your local community hub.
4. Make sure your rent account is clear by the end of your tenancy.
5. Let your gas, electricity and water suppliers know that you are moving by providing them with a meter reading on your last day at the property.
6. Leave your property in a clear and clean condition and make sure that all your belongings (as well as pets) have been removed from the whole property (garden, cellar, loft space and balcony).
7. Remove any DIY alterations not adopted or agreed by the council.
8. Hand in a full set of keys to your local community hub before midday on the Monday your tenancy ends.
To avoid additional charges, follow these steps
- Hand in your keys on time - you will be charged additional rent until the keys are received
- Hand in a full set of keys for every lock – this will mean we won't need to change the locks
- Make sure any pets have been removed – we will ask you to pay for any costs to remove animals, and you could be prosecuted for animal abandonment
- Leave the property (garden, cellar, loft space, balcony) in a clear and clean condition – you will be charged if we need to remove any belongings from the property
- Repair any damage and remove any DIY alterations not adopted or agreed by the council - we will charge you if we need to put right or make good
Help to clear your property
Find information on help that is available:
- Waste removal service
- Where to take your waste and recycling
- How to get rid of unwanted items
- Find other services to assist you through Leeds Directory
What happens next
When we receive your notice to terminate form, we may contact you to confirm and discuss what your responsibilities are when leaving a Leeds City Council property.
Your property will be advertised on the Leeds Homes website during the notice period.
Things to be aware of
Contact from your energy supplier
When a council tenancy ends, we start transferring the electricity and gas accounts to Energy Angels. This won’t affect you, as the switch won’t happen until you’ve left your property. However, your current energy supplier may contact you to check whether you agree to the transfer. Please let them know that your landlord has requested the switch as you are ending the tenancy, and that you have no objections.
If they would like any more information, please ask them to call us on 0113 378 1387.
If you pay rent by Direct Debit
Your Direct Debit will automatically be cancelled when the tenancy ends. If your final rent payment is due after your tenancy ends, you will need to arrange to pay the balance in another way.
Moving to another council property
If you are moving to another council property, your tenancy will end on the date your new tenancy starts.
Universal credit payments
When you end your tenancy, your housing costs will be paid at the rate based on your housing circumstances at the end of your assessment period.
If you move during an assessment period and have no ongoing rent liability you will receive no Housing Costs for the entire assessment period.
If you move during an assessment period and have a new rent liability, the whole assessment period will be paid at the new rent liability amount.
This means that your last Universal Credit payment at the address you are leaving may not cover all of your rent.
To reduce the chances of your last payment not covering all of your rent, please try to ensure that your tenancy termination date is either the day after or as close as possible to the end of your monthly assessment period.
Please note that you are still responsible for paying rent and following the terms of your tenancy agreement until the date your tenancy ends.
Ending a tenancy for someone else
We would accept a third party notice:
- when someone has legal authority to act on their behalf (power of attorney/deputyship orders/executors or personal representatives)
- when someone has died, it is a sole tenancy and the property is clear of belongings and unoccupied
We will ask you for legal documents such as a death certificate, proof of Power of Attorney if applicable. Please print, complete and return the third party termination notice (PDF, 166KB) to the local community hub.
If you cannot use the third party termination notice form, email HousingEnquiries@leeds.gov.uk.
