Moving on up? Advice for those moving between rental homes

Tenants are staying in properties for longer than ever before, but with the average duration of a private rented sector (PRS) tenancy standing at 19.8 months*, many of us recognise the responsibilities, challenges, and irritants when changing address.

To help combat this, the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has drawn together some helpful tips to ease the process for when you do decide to move.

Peter Lawrence at Lawrence Rand said:

"The PRS can offer fantastic flexibility for renters and by observing a few simple guidelines, tenants can ensure any move between properties is as smooth as possible.

"Thinking about things like final bills ahead of moving day will ensure there are no loose ends for either tenant or landlord, and should reduce the potential for disputes further down the line when you enter your new property and a new tenant makes a home of your old. Remember that a well put together inventory, which is agreed by tenant and landlord, can also go a long way to easing the moving process. The provision of an inventory is not mandatory, so it's always worth checking if one is provided before signing for a new rented property."

ARLA has the following tips for renters moving home:

Stay in touch - Be sure to inform your bank, employer and friends that you're about to change address to avoid missing any important post or dropping off Christmas card lists! It is also worth leaving a forwarding address and telephone number with the landlord in case anything urgent is delivered to your previous home.

Settling up - Before you leave a rental property, be sure to notify utility providers at least 48 hours prior to moving out. This will allow them to send a final bill, which a landlord or agent may ask to see, along with proof of payment, before you depart.

Clearing out - Remember that a rented property should always be left clean and tidy when you leave. If an inventory was taken when you moved in, be sure to check the state of individual rooms against this and move furniture back to its original position to reduce the chance of deposit disputes arising.

If a formal inventory wasn't compiled upon moving in, it is always prudent to leave a property as tidy as possible on moving out days and to take timed/dated photos as evidence of your clear-up efforts. Remember that any furniture that you have brought into a property must be removed at the end of the tenancy, unless otherwise agreed with the landlord. If you have to dispose of larger items, you may need to give the local council advance notice.

Come clean -Breakages happen, and often reporting any accidental damage to the relevant party before you've moved out could reduce the expense to you in the long term. If a landlord has to replace something at the last minute, the increased cost may be passed on to you in the form of a deposit deduction.

Once issues around costs are resolved and there is agreement on how much deposit will be released, it must be returned to you within 10 days of the tenancy ending. If a dispute remains ongoing, your deposit will be held in the secure scheme it was put into at the start of the tenancy until this is ironed out.

Use the professionals -If you have any queries during a tenancy, or when you're considering moving to a new property, get the best possible advice from a professional letting agent.