We all know how much there is to do when moving house, but moving comes with another set of challenges for people who are renting. We’ve put together a short guide to help you avoid the common pitfalls that come with moving from a rental property.

1. Read your lease agreement

Your lease agreement will have the notice period you have to give your landlord. Check this carefully. Notice periods vary from state to state and also come with variations if you have other reasons for leaving the property. There are also some new regulations for COVID-19. The notice period for moving without reasons is generally around two weeks. You’re not obliged to remain in the property for the notice period, but you do have to pay rent to the termination date.

Also check how you are required to give notice, as this also varies from state to state. In some states, you’ll need to file a ‘notice of intention to leave form’ with your landlord. Failure to follow the rules could see your landlord asking for compensation. Make sure you’re clear about what you have to do and follow it to the letter.

2. Timing your move

Timing your move requires factoring in a number of additional tasks to simply packing up and leaving. You’ll need to time everything carefully to avoid running out of time. Moving is stressful enough without having extra pressures on your to-do list.

If you’re remaining in the rental up to the termination date, make sure you do the following:

• Book your moving company immediately, allowing for time to clean and inspect the property once all your furniture and possessions are gone.
• Organise your packing materials and start packing straight away, starting with non-essential items.
• Eat the food you have in the fridge, freezer and cupboards before going to the supermarket so you have less to move. 
• If you need help keeping track of everything you need to do, look at our moving house checklist to make sure you have everything covered.

3. Cleaning, inspection and your smart phone

Once all your belongings are out of the property, you’ll need to give it a thorough clean. If the property isn’t left in an acceptable state, your landlord may seek compensation. Again, refer to your lease agreement for what you need to do.

The general rule of thumb is ‘better safe than sorry.’ Clean every surface, inside the cupboards, the oven and any appliances that belong with the flat and the toilet and bathroom. Given how much else you’ll have to do, you may want to hire professional cleaners who are experts at giving empty houses a deep clean.

Don’t forget about making sure the grounds are neat and tidy too. Then take your secret weapon—your smart phone—and take photos of the property, inside and out, to document you left it in good condition.

Because of the short time frame and extra tasks, moving into a new home from a rental can be one of the more stressful moves people have to do in life. Hiring professional movers will remove a great deal of this stress. If you’re on a budget, talk to us about hiring movers and a truck by the hour to help you with the awkward or heavy item