3 Rules to Follow when You Move out of Your Apartment

Moving out of your apartment soon? There are a plethora of reasons why you need to give notice sooner rather than later,and in many instances we need to move out right in the middle of our lease. And for many of us, we feel guilty that we are leaving. But this is just the normal routine in life. Don’t feel bad, you can’t stay forever. Here are some steps you can follow that will get you started in the right direction.

Your lease will answer all of your questions

Your lease will provide you with all the information you will need. It is your map and should indicate how much notice you will need to give your landlord. It’s also a great tool to refer to when you have additional questions. Take some extra time to become familiar with what this document is and what it states.

For example, this lease will list how long your lease term is, and how many days of notice you must provide in advance. Most properties require a 30 to 60 day notice. If you don’t give adequate notice, there may be additional fees involved for your to leave on good terms. It’s always a good idea to give notice well in advance. That way there will be limited confusion.

Rental cycles can sometimes confuse renters. If your community requires that you give a 30 day notice and your in the middle of the month, the notice won’t officially begin until the first of the month.

always give the right amount of notice….

Now you should always give notice in writing. You can always give oral notice, but what if the leasing agent or landlord forgets? Or what if they get sick? Writing a letter, or sending an email is the best option. Be sure to include your address and name, and your intentions of moving out. Now is also a good time to ask your landlord about the security deposit. If you want to get the entire amount back, be sure to bring this up in your conversation.

Also be sure to leave your forwarding address. That way they know where to send your security deposit. You should send the letter certified, so you have proof that they did receive it.

leave on good terms

Now there shouldn’t be anything left to complete. But that doesn’t mean that everything will go smoothly. Although leaving on good terms is the ideal situation, sometimes tenants are surprised to find out that not only did the landlord keep the entire deposit, their credit report was also negatively impacted.

Rules regarding tenant landlord law will differ depending on the city and state in which you reside. Sometimes you will have to get an attorney involved in your situation. Other times you can work it out on your own.

Remember that your lease document is your map to all the rules regarding your lease. Become familiar with the terms. That way, you won’t ever have to worry about what might occur when you finally do leave.