As a tenant, there may come a time when you need to end your tenancy agreement early. Whether it`s due to job relocation, financial difficulties, or a change in personal circumstances, terminating a rental agreement before the end date can be a complicated process.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to end a tenancy agreement early without facing legal consequences. In this article, we’ll explore the most important steps tenants need to take to end a tenancy agreement early.
1. Check your lease agreement: Before you take any steps to end your tenancy agreement early, check your lease agreement to see if there are any provisions that allow for early termination. Some leases may have a clause for early termination such as a break clause. If a break clause is present, this will indicate the specific conditions that must be met when ending the tenancy early.
2. Provide adequate notice: If you wish to terminate your lease early, you must provide adequate notice to your landlord or letting agency. This notice period varies depending on the terms of your agreement, but it is typically 30 days’ notice. Ensure you provide written notice by mail or email. Verbal notice can be disputed as not having been given, so using written communication is essential.
3. Communicate with your landlord: It is a good idea to communicate with your landlord or letting agency to inform them of your intention to terminate your lease early. This will help to establish good communication and help you to follow the correct procedure. Keeping them in the loop will prevent misunderstandings or concerns.
4. Try to find a replacement tenant: If you’re ending your tenancy agreement early, the landlord is likely to lose income until they can find another tenant. To mitigate this, try and find a replacement tenant who can take over the agreement for the remainder of the lease period. The landlord may still require you to pay rent until the new tenant officially takes over, but the monthly payment will be reduced if they don’t have to pay out of their pocket to find a new tenant.
5. Pay rent and other bills on time: Even if you terminate your contract early, you remain liable for any outstanding rent and other bills until the end of the notice period. Ensure you pay these on time to avoid any legal action that your landlord may take against you.
6. Check for damages: The landlord will likely carry out a final inventory check of all items within the property once you have vacated. Before you vacate your home, check to ensure you haven’t caused any damage to the property, and if necessary, carry out any repairs required.
In summary, ending a tenancy agreement early can be a complicated process, but following the proper steps can help you to avoid legal consequences. By checking your lease agreement, providing adequate notice, communicating with your landlord, finding a replacement tenant, paying rent and bills on time, and checking for damages, you can end your tenancy agreement early without any complications.
