Ending your tenancy

If you are thinking of ending your tenancy with us - get in touch. 

Before you make a decision: 

• Is there anything we can do to resolve any issues you're having or to help you feel happier in your home?
• Or perhaps we can help you to find a different home? 

Either way, please get in touch. We'll do what we can to help.

If you do decide to end your tenancy, we'll try to make it as smooth and as simple as possible.

Contact us: 

• Phone - 0300 123 6633
• LiveChat

Give four weeks' notice

To end your tenancy, you must give us at least 4 weeks' notice in writing. Your tenancy must end on a Monday.

When you tell us that you would like to end your tenancy, we will arrange for an Allocations Officer to work with you.

The Allocations Officer will:

• guide you through the process of ending your tenancy
• carry out an inspection of your property
• advise you of your responsibilities 

Before the inspection, make sure: 

• you have reported any repairs to us - report a repair
• your home is clean and tidy 

During the inspection, the Allocations Officer will: 

• inspect your property - this may identify work that needs to be done before you leave, giving you time to do so before you move out to avoid any charges
• help you to complete the paperwork needed to end your tenancy
• answer any questions you may have

If you don't allow us to carry out an inspection, or if you aren't home when we attend a pre-arranged visit, you may miss out on valuable information that could help you avoid any charges after your tenancy ends.

Before you move out, make sure your home is in a good condition:

• Leave your home clean and tidy 
• Repair any damage to your home before you move out - otherwise, you will be responsible for the cost of any repairs needed

Remove all possessions before returning the keys, including: 

• furniture, rubbish, floor coverings (including items in gardens, sheds and lofts) - anything left behind will be disposed of, and you will need to pay a clearance charge.
• animals - you will be charged for any costs incurred for the care of any animal left behind, and we may need to report the neglect or abandonment of an animal to the relevant authorities.
• furniture pack - if you have a furniture pack in your home, contact Your Homes Newcastle to arrange for it to be collected before you leave. If you don't you may be charged for missing or damaged items (furniture packs cannot be transferred from one property to another, and must be returned when you move).
• decking, sheds, greenhouses, other structures or alterations may need removing. Speak with your Allocations Officer to make sure you know what is required, and follow their advice.

Arrange to pay for any outstanding charges.

Once your tenancy has ended, you will still be responsible for any outstanding rent and other payments (such as those for rechargeable repairs).

You must not allow any person to stay in your home after your tenancy ends.

If anyone living with you doesn't have alternative living arrangements in place, they should contact our Housing Solutions Service as soon as possible for advice and assistance. 

A joint tenancy will end when any of the joint tenants gives us four weeks' notice that they would like the end the tenancy.

If one of the tenants wishes to continue living in the property, they should contact us as soon as possible to discuss the possibility of being granted a sole tenancy.

The death of someone close to you can be an incredibly a difficult time.

If you are contacting us to end a tenancy on behalf of a tenant who has passed away, we have made it as simple as possible for you.

Book an appointment

You need to book an appointment with our Allocations team on 0300 123 6633.

They will arrange a convenient time to meet with you.

It is important to know that Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit will stop from the Monday after the passing of a person, so we respectfully advise that you end the tenancy and return the keys for the property as soon as you reasonably can.

What happens at the appointment

You will be asked to sign some paperwork and when you would like to hand the property keys back.

The team will need to see a copy of the death certificate at this appointment.

Bereavement support

There are organisations in South Tyneside that can help you and offer support:

• Your GP can put you in touch with a local bereavement counsellor if you'd like more formal one-to-one counselling
• You can self-refer yourself to see a counsellor to South Tyneside Lifecycle Primary Care Mental Health Service
• You might also be able to get counselling support through your employer's Occupational Health service
• Tyneside and Northumberland Mind - provide mental health support services
• Samaritans - 24-hour phone helpline offering emotional support to people in distress or despair
• CRUSE Bereavement Care - bereavement support to children and young people
• Kooth - online counselling and support service, available to all young people across South Tyneside aged between 11 and 25 years
• Escape Intervention Services - counselling support to young people aged 4 to 25 years, and their parents / carers

If you are transferring to another Council property, we will inspect your home to make sure it is clean, tidy, undamaged and in good decorative order before the move can be approved.

If your home doesn't meet our lettable standards, any offer of accommodation may be withdrawn.

You may be given 48 hours to address any issues if it is reasonable to do so.

An Allocations Officer will discuss and agree with you the moving date to your new home at the accompanied viewing of the property you will be moving to.

It is very important that all keys, including for post boxes and communal entrances, are returned on or before the Monday on which your tenancy ends.

Return keys to either:

• Housing Solutions Service, Unit 3, Middlefields Industrial Estate, Heddon Way, South Shields, NE34 0NT (open 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays)
• your Housing Plus Officer

When you hand in your keys, we will give you a receipt. Please keep this for your records.

If any keys are not accounted for, you could be charged. 

If you cannot travel to us or you need advice about your housing situation, contact our Housing Solutions Service.