when tenants decide to move out voluntarily, they generally must give a course hero

by Dr. Emmie Strosin 4 min read

What happens when a tenant moves out of a rental property?

Consequently, disputes over security deposits, notices to vacate and damages to the property commonly spring up when a tenant moves out. Both landlords and tenants have specific responsibilities -- both under the law and under their rental contracts -- that can help minimize the possibility of a dispute.

How much notice must a landlord give before you move out?

The specific notice depends on the terms of the lease, and if your lease does not outline notice requirements, California law establishes them. Generally speaking, your landlord must give you a 30-day written notice if you've lived in the property for less than a year, and 60 days' notice if you've lived in the home more than a year.

What is a move out form for a landlord?

Also known as a move out checklist for tenants, this form serves as a set of instructions indicating what the tenant should do if they decide to move out of the property. Landlords should attach this form as an addendum to the original lease contract.

Does my Landlord have to help me move out?

It is not obligatory for a landlord to help tenants move out of their units. The tenant is responsible for providing the landlord with proper notice and ensuring the property is free from any damages. The tenant must also coordinate with movers and remove their belongings from the unit themselves.

Why is a move out checklist for tenants necessary?

The primary purpose of a move out checklist for tenants to follow is to prevent any disputes over the security deposit. More often than not, when t...

What should landlords do when tenants move out?

On their part, landlords should expect to complete the following steps to ensure a smooth move out process: receive proper notice, conduct an inspe...

What is a tenant move out form?

Also known as a move out checklist for tenants, this form serves as a set of instructions indicating what the tenant should do if they decide to mo...

Are landlords required to help tenants move out?

It is not obligatory for a landlord to help tenants move out of their units. The tenant is responsible for providing the landlord with proper notic...

The Importance of a Move Out Checklist for Tenants

Some landlords believe that the process of moving out does not require a set of procedures. They would rather wing it than bother to follow a series of steps. But, this approach to a tenant moving out only invites disaster.

Should Landlords Help When Tenants Move Out?

It is not obligatory for a landlord to help tenants move out of their units. The tenant is responsible for providing the landlord with proper notice and ensuring the property is free from any damages. The tenant must also coordinate with movers and remove their belongings from the unit themselves.

What Is a Tenant Move Out Form?

Also known as a move out checklist for tenants, this form serves as a set of instructions indicating what the tenant should do if they decide to move out of the property. Landlords should attach this form as an addendum to the original lease contract.

Rental Move Out Checklist Template

Constructing a checklist from scratch can come as a challenge for many landlords. To help out, here is a sample move-out list for tenants landlords can use.

Worth the Effort

A move out checklist for tenants may seem like an extra bit of work for landlords. But, such a small action can go a long way in ensuring the tenant leaves the rental property in good condition. It also helps prevent any disputes over the security deposit.

What happens when a tenant moves out?

Consequently, disputes over security deposits, notices to vacate and damages to the property commonly spring up when a tenant moves out. Both landlords and tenants have specific responsibilities -- both under the law and under their rental contracts -- that can help minimize the possibility of a dispute.

What are the responsibilities of a landlord when vacating a lease?

Tenant and Landlord Responsibilities When Vacating a Lease. Vacating a lease can be inconvenient for both landlords and tenants, and frustrations with the property, the tenant's behavior or the landlord's administration of the property can all contribute to the desire to vacate a lease.

How long does it take to get a security deposit back after moving out?

After a tenant moves out, a landlord has 21 days to either refund the security deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, along with the remainder of the deposit. Tenants have no specific duties regarding security deposits, but conducting a walk-through both when you move in and when you move out can help ensure that there are no unfair or misleading deductions taken from your deposit.

Why can't a landlord cancel a lease?

A landlord can't cancel a lease because something breaks. If something breaks in the rental property, tenants can't immediately vacate the lease.

How long do you have to give notice to a landlord in California?

Generally speaking, your landlord must give you a 30-day written notice if you've lived in the property for less than a year, and 60 days' notice if you've lived in the home more than a year.

How long does it take to repair a rental property?

Instead, they must give the landlord reasonable time to repair the item -- usually 30 days -- and thereafter can repair the item themselves and deduct from the cost of rent so long as the repair costs less than one month of rent.

Do tenants have to walk through security deposits?

Tenants have no specific duties regarding security deposits, but conducting a walk-through both when you move in and when you move out can help ensure that there are no unfair or misleading deductions taken from your deposit. References. California Department of Consumer Affairs: California Tenants.

What to do if you refuse to pay rent?

If they are refusing to pay a higher rent but are also refusing the leave, then you may need to choose eviction for your method. However, you may also want to talk to them about a timeline of getting out of the home or even raising the rent for them automatically, if it is allowed by your lease.

What is an eviction notice without cause?

Eviction notice without cause. Within the eviction notice with cause category, there are three main types. The first type is called a notice to quit to pay rent. This is used when the tenant violates the lease by failing to pay rent and it can be used to remedy a situation prior to it escalating to eviction.

How long do you have to give notice of eviction?

With this notice, generally the laws require that you give a 30-, 60-, or 90-day notice to the tenants before proceeding with eviction.

What happens if you fail to pay your rent?

However, in most cases, if your tenants have failed to pay, then you are more likely to win. This is no guarantee, however. If you do win the case, the tenants will be given a set amount of time by the judge to get out of the property and take all of their belongings with them. Even if you are ruled a monetary judgment, ...

What to do if you can't get out of your house?

If they do not get out of the property by the date given to them by the judge, then you can, in many states, get the sheriff to come and physically evict them from the property .

Can you move out of a lease if you are paying rent?

There may come a time when you simply need someone to move out of your property even though they are paying rent and the lease is active. You may want to renovate the property or even move back in. Unfortunately, in this situation, your options are limited. Unless you have a clause in the lease that allows you to require them to move out early ...

Can you get tenants out of a lease?

If you do have a lease in place and it has expired but the tenants are not moving out, you can get them out of the property fairly easily. However, if they are continuing to pay rent, then you may want to consider letting them stay there by executing a new lease agreement. The only reason you may want to avoid this is if a rental increase has been ...

What happens if a landlord evicts you?

On the other hand, if your landlord is forced to evict you, you'll not only have an eviction judgment against you, but also possibly a judgment for rent, late fees, attorneys' fees, and court costs .

How to secure a court order for eviction?

To secure a court order, your landlord must follow all termination and eviction lawsuit procedures, and demonstrate at trial that you've done something wrong (like not paying the rent) that justifies eviction. If you have a defense—a reason why you shouldn't be evicted —you will be able to present it to the court.

When can a landlord send a quit notice?

When landlords may serve a pay rent or quit notice. While most states allow landlords to send the notice the first day the rent is late, a handful don't let the landlord send the notice until you're a certain number of days late (effectively giving you a grace period ). What the notice must contain. Some laws lay out exactly what must be in the ...

How to pay rent before deadline?

If you receive an unconditional quit notice, or you know you can't pay rent, try to move out before the deadline.

How long do you have to pay rent after you receive a notice?

The tenants have a choice: either pay the rent (cure) or move out (quit) before the deadline stated in the notice (usually three to ten days after receipt). A few states are tough on delinquent renters, though, and don't require landlords to give tenants a chance to pay up.

What happens if you are late on rent?

In many states, if you're late with the rent a second or third time within a specified number of months, landlords can serve you with an unconditional quit notice—they don't have to give you a few days to pay. When you receive a notice to pay rent or quit, read it carefully, ...

What is a termination of tenancy?

Termination of Tenancy: What You Need to Know. Every state requires landlords to follow certain procedures when terminating a tenancy, and state laws regarding the timing of and required content of termination notices—often called "quit" or "pay rent or quit" notices—vary greatly. You'll need to check your state's law on termination ...

Can you leave a house early without penalty?

Also, you may be able to leave early without penalty if the residence poses a threat to your health or safety or the landlord is neglectful. In the latter case you would need to file an application to ask the Landlord and Tenant Board to end your tenancy.

Can you use your rent deposit to pay for damages?

If there are damages, the landlord must make an application against you to collect those funds. The landlord cannot use your ‘rent deposit’ to pay for damages.

What happens if a tenant leaves without notice?

Things get a bit messier when your tenant ups and leaves without notice and you have no way to get in touch with him after he leaves. Things are muddled, too, when you initiate–knowingly or unknowingly–breaking a lease. It is not uncommon to wake up one morning to find that one of your rental units had been vacated without any notice.

Why do tenants seek early termination?

Most of the time, a tenant will seek an early termination to a lease or rental agreement because he needs to move to another location, for whatever reason. Many times, the tenant needs to move away from the area for a job. Obviously, he will seek to terminate the lease before it naturally expires. It behooves you to work with your tenant who wants ...

What happens if a tenant breaks their lease early?

In most cases where the lease is broken early, it will be the tenant who initiates the early termination of a lease, either intentionally or unintentionally.

What happens if you break a lease?

If you breach a rental agreement or lease, your tenant has a right to end the lease before its end date. He technically did not break the lease—you did.

How long do you have to give notice to break a lease?

Breaking Lease with Proper Notice. In most jurisdictions, a tenant must give you 30 days or more notice before vacating the premises. This should give you enough time to find a new tenant. In some jurisdictions, even with 30 days notice, the former tenant owes rent all the way up until the end of the lease or agreement, ...

Can you cover yourself if you vacate a rental?

Of course, if he wishes to vacate his rental unit early, you have to cover yourself financially . You will want to get as much advanced notice as humanly possible so that you can seek out a new tenant to fill the vacancy as soon as possible.

Can a landlord break a lease?

It is rare that a landlord or property owner breaks a lease. This post will address the different scenarios of what happens if a tenant breaks the lease early and moves out.