Let us know when you are planning to move and what your new address will be so that we can agree a date when the tenancy will cease. You should contact the Rehousing Section on 01727 819480 (direct line) or write to us at Civic Centre,St Peters Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3JE or go to Contact Us.
Your tenancy agreement requires you to give the Council 4 weeks notice to end your tenancy. In certain circumstances the Council can agree to waive all or part of this notice period. You should contact the Rehousing Section to request any alteration to the notice period.
You will need to complete a termination of tenancy form. If you would like us to send you a form please contact us at the address or telephone number above, or by using the Housing Enquiry eform. The form gives the Council permission to end the tenancy and to clear any items remaining in the property that you no longer require and are unable to clear (there may be a charge for this service). The tenancy will only end once the termination of tenancy form and keys are returned to the Council.
You are responsible for removing furniture and the general clearance of the property and garden.
What if the tenant has died?
The next of kin, or executor of the estate of the tenant will be responsible for removing the contents of the property.
All Housing Benefit entitlement stops from the Monday following the date of death. This means that the full rent will be due until the tenancy is ended following the return of the keys to the Council.
When and where do I return the keys to?
Keys should be returned to the Housing Reception on the Monday that you wish the tenancy to end.
We do not encourage keys to be returned through the post as they can get lost meaning that the tenancy does not end when you want it to.
Keys for retirement housing schemes should also be returned to the Housing Reception and should not be left with the Warden.
You should ensure that all keys are returned to the Council, even those you have had cut yourself. Once the keys have been returned to the Council, you will no longer have access to the property for any reason.
Rent will continue to be charged until the tenancy is ended following the return of keys to the Council. If keys are received later than Monday, rent will be charged to the following Monday.
Rent payments
If you are the tenant, you will be required to clear any outstanding rent. Please contact your Housing Management Officer on 01727 866100 for further information and advice.
The Housing Benefit Department can also be contacted at the Civic Centre on 01727 866100.
If your rent account is in credit when the tenancy is terminated, you may claim a rent refund by completing a form available from the Finance Department on 01727 866100.
Please note that due to Housing Benefit adjustments, there may be a delay before the final balance will be available after a tenant has died.
Checklist
 | Tell us when you plan to move |
| Complete and return the termination of tenancy form |
| Tell the Housing Benefit Department that you are moving (if you are in receipt of Housing Benefit) |
| Inform the DSS (if you are in receipt of retirement pension or income support) |
| Arrange gas and electricity readings and inform the suppliers |
| Advise the telephone company |
| Arrange water meter reading and inform the supplier |
| Arrange removals |
| Redirect post/cancel milk and newspapers |
| Advise your home contents insurance company of your new address |
| Clear and clean the property and garden and remove any rubbish and belongings |
| Return the keys to the Council and advise us of your new forwarding address. |
Date of last review: 18 September 2008