When should the tenants hand back the keys?

Marvel1

Only way round is offer partial refund to tenant for early surrender also if they would like to clean in case they were day before to ensure they had deposit back.

littlegreenfrog_2

Call the agent tomorrow and instruct them to give the tenants 24 hours' notice that you intend to access the property. Get the keys from the agency. Go in and look at the place on Tuesday. If they've wrecked the place, let the agent handle it. If the place looks fine, tell the agent not to bother with the inventory since you're moving back in and just return the deposit. You keep the keys which were held by the agent. Tenants post theirs through the letterbox on the last day of their tenancy.

HappyMJ

Sarahlou0606 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies everyone. We would love to give the tenants a percentage of their rent back to enable us to move in earlier but the agent has been in able to get in contact with the tenants to discuss this. We only know they have moved out because we received a letter from council tax to say the property was declared empty and unfurnished from 1st March. They are actually in breech of their tenancy agreement because they are meant to tell the agent if the property is left empty for more than 14 days.

The agent has told us the inventory needs to be done so they can give back the deposit and I am getting more and more worried that they have wrecked the place.

Do you have a key? I'd just enter the property anyway on the day.

Pixie5740

The letting agent is incorrect. A check-out inventory does not have to be done for the deposit to be released. It should be done in case there are deductions to be made from the deposit as you need evidence to justify the deductions.

What makes you think the tenants have trashed the place? Is there any mention of damage in the inspection reports carried out during the tenancy?

Sarahlou0606

Pixie5740 wrote: »

What makes you think the tenants have trashed the place? Is there any mention of damage in the inspection reports carried out during the tenancy?

It just seems strange that they didn't inform the agent that they moved out and now they are not replying to emails or answering phone calls - you would think that they would want their deposit back sooner rather than later unless they are assuming they are not getting it back...

Marvel1

littlegreenfrog wrote: »

Call the agent tomorrow and instruct them to give the tenants 24 hours' notice that you intend to access the property. Get the keys from the agency. Go in and look at the place on Tuesday. If they've wrecked the place, let the agent handle it. If the place looks fine, tell the agent not to bother with the inventory since you're moving back in and just return the deposit. You keep the keys which were held by the agent. Tenants post theirs through the letterbox on the last day of their tenancy.

24 hours notice is fine to inspect but nothing else, if damage or unclean the tenant may return to sort it before the tenancy ends.

Sarahlou0606

HappyMJ wrote: »

Do you have a key? I'd just enter the property anyway on the day.

No we don't have the keys - the property was fully managed by the estate agent so they hold the keys.

PasturesNew

Pay the tenants the last week's rent back, so they hand over the keys straight away.

Simples.

And/or kick the butt of the agent - the agent you chose and are paying. They're idle if they can't go the extra mile having picked up easy money for 2 straight years.

littlegreenfrog_2

Sarahlou0606 wrote: »

It just seems strange that they didn't inform the agent that they moved out and now they are not replying to emails or answering phone calls - you would think that they would want their deposit back sooner rather than later unless they are assuming they are not getting it back...

I wouldn't worry unduly until there is a reason to. Perhaps they've gone on holiday. Perhaps the agent has been a pain in the neck throughout their tenancy and they're not feeling inclined to be helpful.

Sarahlou0606

littlegreenfrog wrote: »

Call the agent tomorrow and instruct them to give the tenants 24 hours' notice that you intend to access the property. Get the keys from the agency. Go in and look at the place on Tuesday. If they've wrecked the place, let the agent handle it. If the place looks fine, tell the agent not to bother with the inventory since you're moving back in and just return the deposit. You keep the keys which were held by the agent. Tenants post theirs through the letterbox on the last day of their tenancy.

But legally the tenants can still have access to the property until Friday so it could be fine on Tuesday and then they could go in and trash the place on Wednesday!