Ending your occupation contract

Before leaving the property, you must remove everything that does not belong to us or was not there before you moved in.

You must make sure the property is clear of all personal belongings, furniture and rubbish. You must also make sure gardens and communal areas are clear of rubbish, debris and any contents you have taken out the property.

If you do not clear your home and garden, we will clear it and dispose of any items left.  You will be charged for removing and disposing of these items.

You must make sure that the property is secure before you hand in the keys. This means locking all doors and windows before you leave.

Before you leave your property, you should:

• Make sure the property is clean and tidy with no damage. We will allow for some wear and tear, but you can be recharged if we need to clear your property or do repairs because you have changed, damaged or neglected the property.
• Remove all rubbish, furniture and possessions from your home, loft, garden and shed (if you have one). If you need to get rid of any large items of furniture, you can book a bulky waste collection.
• Pay any outstanding rent and other charges. Please let us know if you are having any problems paying your rent.
• Tell the Council Tax department that you are moving and provide a forwarding address.
• Tell your utility (electric, gas, water) providers that you are moving. You will need to end your accounts or change your details. You will be asked to provide meter readings.
• Tell your Bank, Building Society, Insurance Company and any other organisations you deal with that you are moving.
• Redirect your mail using the Post Office website.
• Tell your doctor and school (if you have any children) if you are moving out of the area.
• Make sure everyone in the property has moved out.

You can take all of the keys and fobs to any Hub. A housing advisor will make sure they take the keys from you and provide you with a receipt confirming the keys have been received.

If you do not return the keys before 12 noon on the day your occupation contract ends, you will be responsible for the rent until the day the keys are handed in.

If you are unable to make it into a Hub, please contact us on 029 2053 7501.

When you give notice to end your occupation contract, you should pay your rent up until your occupation contract end date and any other outstanding charges owed to us.

If you still owe rent once your occupation contract has ended, this is called former arrears.

If you do not make any outstanding payments, this may affect you when applying for social housing in the future.

If you are experiencing any difficulties paying the money you owe or would like any further advice on making payments, please call our Finance Team on 029 2053 7350 or our Welfare Liaison team on 029 2087 1071.

If your circumstances change, you can ask to cancel your notice before your occupation contract end date, but we may not be able to accept this  request. Your request must be in writing, you can take this to a Hub or send it to TenancyManagement@cardiff.gov.uk. A tenancy officer will assess the information and the reasons why you have decided to cancel your notice. They will contact you with a decision.

If you have any questions about cancelling your notice to end your occupation contract, please contact us on 029 2053 7501 or visit a Hub.

If you do not leave on the agreed date, action may be taken to remove you from the property.

If you want a copy of your housing occupation contract, you can visit any Hub with proof of your identification and an officer will be able to print a copy for you.

We cannot provide this to someone on your behalf.

If you are going to be away from your home for more than 28 days, you will need to inform us with your reasons, you can do this by visiting a Hub or contacting Tenancy Management on 029 2053 7501 or email TenancyManagement@cardiff.gov.uk. Some of the reasons for a long absence from the property may include:

• being in hospital,
• being in prison,
• working away, or
• visiting family overseas.

You will still be responsible for paying the rent whilst you are away from the property.  If you get housing benefit or Universal Credit, you will need to notify them of your temporary absence from the property.

If it looks like you are no longer living at your home, we may consider your property to be abandoned. For example, if you have removed all of your belongings or you are not using the property as your main home. This is a breach of the terms and conditions of your housing occupation contract.

If we think your property may be abandoned, a tenancy officer will make attempts to contact you to discuss your occupation contract. If this happens, you must engage with the officer and discuss any issues you are experiencing at your home. They will be able to provide advice, guidance and signposting to different services depending on the nature of any concerns you may have.

After the investigation, if the tenancy officer considers the property to be abandoned, we will seek to regain possession. This means your occupation contract will end.

We actively try to support vulnerable contract-holders who may be experiencing difficulties maintaining a successful tenancy.  If you are experiencing any difficulties in managing your tenancy or would like general occupation contract advice, please contact us.