When leases end, landlords typically continue to rent the home or apartment on a month to month basis until one of the parties indicates otherwise. If you want to end the lease and you want to keep most of your security deposit, you will need to make the transition easy on your landlord.
Let Your Landlord Know Your're Leaving: Just because you know you're planning to move at the end of the month doesn't mean your landlord does! Look at your lease to see how many days notice you must give your landlord before you actually leave. Once you've determined this, you will need to provide your landlord with a written notice of your intentions. If you do not let your landlord know you're leaving, you could end up paying for another month's rent. For a sample of a notice to vacate, click here.
Clean Up The Apartment: In order to get as much of your security deposit back as possible, you'll want to leave the apartment looking as clean as you possibly can. The less the landlord has to do to prepare your apartment for new renters - the more likely you will get your security deposit back. For example, if you painted any part of the apartment another color, ask your landlord if he plans to paint it back to the original color. It may be less money for you to paint it yourself than for him to take money out of your deposit. Also, the cost of renting a steam cleaner (available at most grocery stores) might be cheaper than what your landlord will charge in cleaning fees. For some helpful cleaning tips, check out this cleaning tips forum.
Ask Your Landlord To Do A Walk-Through Inspection: You might want to video tape this walk through if you're worried about the landlord claiming damages after you've already moved into another apartment. Otherwise, you can just walk through the apartment and write down any damages you two see. If, for some reason, your landlord refuses to walk through with you, send a letter asking the landlord again, and make sure the letter includes a paragraph stating the date that he or she refused to walk through with you. Later, if the landlord makes deductions from your deposit for damage that was not present when you left, was not as severe as the landlord claims, or which you would have repaired yourself (at a lower cost), you have a basis to dispute the amount of the deductions.
Make A List Of Damages: This document should state that the following are the only damages found throughout the apartment. Once signed by both you and the landlord, the list will prevent the landlord from deciding to keep more of your security deposit for damages that occur after you've moved out. The document will also prevent your landlord from claiming the damages are worse than they actually were when you left.
Give Your Landlord Your Forwarding Address: This step is INCREDIBLY important. Forgetting to leave a forwarding address could lead to credit problems or worse! You will also need to contact your main post office. For more advice on redirecting your mail, click here.
Return Your Keys: Your landlord will ask for any copies of keys made to your apartment. Don't forget about that one you made for your best friend, or the one you hid in your glove box. Your landlord may charge a fee for each day you keep the keys past the due date.
By doing all these things, terminating your lease should be simple and successful.
About the Author
Since 1989 dan the roommate man has helped 1000's of people find rooms,apartments or roommates. Need help? Contact him at 800-487-8050 or www.rooommateexpress.com
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