How to end your council tenancy

A council tenancy automatically ends when a tenant:

• dies and there's nobody with a legal right to take over the tenancy or those with the right choose not to take it over
• abandons a house leaving it empty and doesn't respond to a follow-up legal notice
• receives a court order for eviction after we tell you we will raise a court action to recover the property

Apply to end your tenancy

Download a termination of tenancy form (PDF, 748 KB).

You must give us 4 weeks' notice and pay your rent and council tax during this time.

Email the Council Housing team with completed applications..

Before you leave the property

We'll carry out an inspection before you leave the property. This is to find out if any repairs are needed before a new tenant can move in.

We'll also check if there are any repairs you may be responsible for. You need to carry out these repairs before you leave the property. If you don't and are moving to another council property, it could affect the move.

You need to:

• make sure decoration is fresh and clean
• make sure cupboards, surfaces and bathrooms are clean
• remove furniture and personal items from the house, shed and loft
• remove carpets, unless you've agreed with us to leave them
• make sure internal doors and fixtures aren't damaged
• replace fixtures that you have removed, such as light fittings, unless we've agreed you don't need to
• contact your energy and service providers to arrange disconnection and inform energy suppliers of final meter readings

If we need to carry out repairs you'll be charged for the work.

How to return your keys

You must pay any outstanding rent before you return your keys.

Label your keys with your name and property address and take them to a council office.

You must give us also give us a forwarding address and contact number.

Housing Benefit

If you're moving to another council house, you'll need to make a new claim for Housing Benefit.

You must tell the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) if you get housing costs included in your Universal Credit payment.

Leaving without notice

If you leave your home without giving notice:

• you'll still have to pay rent for the 4 weeks' notice period,  even if you don't live in the house during that time
• you'll be responsible for legal costs for any action we need to get access to the house and replace locks
• you may also be responsible for repair costs
  
  
  •