Give notice to end your council tenancy

Tell us if you want to move out of your council house, or let us know if a tenant has died.

If you are the tenant

How much notice you need to give depends on your circumstances and the type of property you're moving into.

If you:

  • want to end your tenancy with us you must give at least four weeks’ notice in writing and your forwarding address. You will also need to complete a surrender form with your neighbourhood management officer or independent living manager, who will also agree your last day of tenancy. Your tenancy will end on the following Sunday that you return your keys.
  • are moving into a council house nominated by us, you need to give us as much notice as possible. Your tenancy will end on the day you return your keys.
  • are moving into residential care or sheltered housing, you will need to give us 28 days’ notice. 

All tenancies end on a Sunday. Simply passing keys back does not end your tenancy and you will continue to be charged rent if you don't give us notice.

When you've given notice

After you give your notice, we will arrange a visit to your property to help make the moving process clear and manageable.

This is so we can also identify any repairs or works that may be needed, explain your responsibilities before leaving and answer any questions you may have about the moving process.

Before you move out

Before you leave your home, please make sure:

  • all personal belongings and rubbish are removed
  • the property is cleaned
  • gardens, sheds, and balconies are cleared
  • all keys, fobs, and parking permits are returned

We will charge you if:

  • you do not leave the property clean and empty and we have to clear your possessions
  • repairs that are your responsibility have not been carried out
  • you have caused damage to the property
  • you have carried out alterations without our permission, or
  • you leave anyone living in the property after you leave, and we have to take court action to evict them

When you move out

On your tenancy end date, your keys must be returned by noon on the Monday after your tenancy ends, keys need to be returned to our council office at 14 Rose Lane, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2UR. They should be in a clearly labelled envelope and posted through the council’s letterbox. Additional rent will be charged if keys are returned late.

You must close all windows and doors and make sure that the property is securely locked. All meter keys must be left all gas and electricity meter keys in the meter. You don't need to take these to your new accommodation.

You must also tell your electricity, gas, water, telephone and internet service providers that you are moving home so that they can close or move your accounts.

If a tenant has died

If the tenant was the only person living in the house, you should let us know as soon as possible. It will ask you to upload a copy of the death certificate. 

If a joint tenant or a family member has been living there and wants to stay, they should find out about taking over a property if the tenant has died.

Any payments of housing benefit or Universal Credit the tenant got will stop after the first Monday following their death, and full rent will be charged to the account.

If you are a named executor in the tenant's will, we will end the tenancy as quickly as we can when you have cleared the house and returned the keys.

If the tenant did not have a will or you are not a named executor, we may need to serve notice on the house to formally end the tenancy. 

Give notice to end a tenancy