Leaving property before end of tenancy - questions

girlinabox

Robbo66 said:

Why try and complicate things, just ring the agency and ask them to do the checkout early making clear that you will be out of the country and unable to make the date. Have you even spoken to the agency and if so what was their response?

I just did, and this was their (unhelpful) response:

"The inventory is carried out by Caboodle and then you can make comments as you mentioned. We would not typically meet at the property, all key handovers and returns take place at our office.

Your tenancy will end on the 11th as per the notice terms of your contract so we maintain that the 11th is the end date, your keys and any fobs will need to be returned by 12pm on the 11th so if you wished to return sooner then you are welcome to. Following this, a checkout report will be carried out by Caboodle."

Can we insist that someone comes to read the meters with us on 6th? It's surely illegal to not have access? 

girlinabox

dimbo61 said:

You are still responsible for Council tax till the end of your tenancy even if you move out 6 days early.
Good luck 

Thank you, yes we pay by DD so we will inform the LA that our tenancy ends on 11th. 

canaldumidi

girlinabox said:

Robbo66 said:

Why try and complicate things, just ring the agency and ask them to do the checkout early making clear that you will be out of the country and unable to make the date. Have you even spoken to the agency and if so what was their response?

Can we insist that someone comes to read the meters with us on 6th? It's surely illegal to not have access? 

No you can't insist someone reads the meters on the 6th. It is your obligation to obtain and pay the final utility bills, which should be based on the tenancy end date - the 11th.

I'm unclear why you won't have acess though. If the LL/agent denied you access prior to the tenancy ending, that would indeed be illegal. In effect, an illegal eviction. But if your inability to obtain access is voluntary ie you have chosen to return the keys early, that cannot be blamed on the LL.

If you really cannot read the meers yourself, or have a friend/relative/neighbour doso for you, then asking the LL/agent to read them for you is an option. If the agent gives your the readings from the 11th (plus a photo of the meters if they are helpful), you can then arange a finalbill from the utility suppliers.

girlinabox

canaldumidi said:

girlinabox said:

Robbo66 said:

Why try and complicate things, just ring the agency and ask them to do the checkout early making clear that you will be out of the country and unable to make the date. Have you even spoken to the agency and if so what was their response?

Can we insist that someone comes to read the meters with us on 6th? It's surely illegal to not have access? 

No you can't insist someone reads the meters on the 6th. It is your obligation to obtain and pay the final utility bills, which should be based on the tenancy end date - the 11th.

I'm unclear why you won't have acess though. If the LL/agent denied you access prior to the tenancy ending, that would indeed be illegal. In effect, an illegal eviction. But if your inability to obtain access is voluntary ie you have chosen to return the keys early, that cannot be blamed on the LL.

If you really cannot read the meers yourself, or have a friend/relative/neighbour doso for you, then asking the LL/agent to read them for you is an option. If the agent gives your the readings from the 11th (plus a photo of the meters if they are helpful), you can then arange a finalbill from the utility suppliers.

We don't have access to the meters. They are in a locked garage which we so not have a key for. The neighbours have access as it's their garage, but they have been given a S21 notice and may not be here on the date we move out (6th). The reason I mentioned having the meters read on 6th is because we are leaving the country on this date. I want meter readings on the day we leave, to compare with meter readings taken on or after 11th by the inventory company. Because if I hand over keys to the property on 6th, who knows what will go on in that property? I know in all likelihood nothing, but I'm just trying to protect ourselves. 

girlinabox

Another thing we were thinking, is if we were able to get meter readings on 6th (whether we can ask the neighbour or ask the letting agency to come down and let us in to read the meters), could we then cut the power to the property by turning off the main fuse? Surely we need to turn off freezer etc to defrost anyway. This would mean that any readings on 6th should be the same as readings taken by Caboodle on or after 11th?
Do we have grounds to insist that someone gives us access to read the meters before we leave on 6th?

Robbo66

girlinabox said:

Robbo66 said:

Why try and complicate things, just ring the agency and ask them to do the checkout early making clear that you will be out of the country and unable to make the date. Have you even spoken to the agency and if so what was their response?

I just did, and this was their (unhelpful) response:

"The inventory is carried out by Caboodle and then you can make comments as you mentioned. We would not typically meet at the property, all key handovers and returns take place at our office.

Your tenancy will end on the 11th as per the notice terms of your contract so we maintain that the 11th is the end date, your keys and any fobs will need to be returned by 12pm on the 11th so if you wished to return sooner then you are welcome to. Following this, a checkout report will be carried out by Caboodle."

Can we insist that someone comes to read the meters with us on 6th? It's surely illegal to not have access? 

Your tenancy can still end on the 11th, you could find a registered inventory clerk local to you and ask them to do a checkout and report for you on the day you leave and drop off the keys, less hassle than complaining and it will also give you written evidence of the condition of the house upon you vacating that you can then compare with the agents report

girlinabox

Robbo66 said:

girlinabox said:

Robbo66 said:

Why try and complicate things, just ring the agency and ask them to do the checkout early making clear that you will be out of the country and unable to make the date. Have you even spoken to the agency and if so what was their response?

I just did, and this was their (unhelpful) response:

"The inventory is carried out by Caboodle and then you can make comments as you mentioned. We would not typically meet at the property, all key handovers and returns take place at our office.

Your tenancy will end on the 11th as per the notice terms of your contract so we maintain that the 11th is the end date, your keys and any fobs will need to be returned by 12pm on the 11th so if you wished to return sooner then you are welcome to. Following this, a checkout report will be carried out by Caboodle."

Can we insist that someone comes to read the meters with us on 6th? It's surely illegal to not have access? 

Your tenancy can still end on the 11th, you could find a registered inventory clerk local to you and ask them to do a checkout and report for you on the day you leave and drop off the keys, less hassle than complaining and it will also give you written evidence of the condition of the house upon you vacating that you can then compare with the agents report

The inventory being carried out by Caboodle isn't really much of a concern.  My concern is that I do not have access to my meter readings on the day I am intending to move out!

SusieT

girlinabox said:

Robbo66 said:

girlinabox said:

Robbo66 said:

Why try and complicate things, just ring the agency and ask them to do the checkout early making clear that you will be out of the country and unable to make the date. Have you even spoken to the agency and if so what was their response?

I just did, and this was their (unhelpful) response:

"The inventory is carried out by Caboodle and then you can make comments as you mentioned. We would not typically meet at the property, all key handovers and returns take place at our office.

Your tenancy will end on the 11th as per the notice terms of your contract so we maintain that the 11th is the end date, your keys and any fobs will need to be returned by 12pm on the 11th so if you wished to return sooner then you are welcome to. Following this, a checkout report will be carried out by Caboodle."

Can we insist that someone comes to read the meters with us on 6th? It's surely illegal to not have access? 

Your tenancy can still end on the 11th, you could find a registered inventory clerk local to you and ask them to do a checkout and report for you on the day you leave and drop off the keys, less hassle than complaining and it will also give you written evidence of the condition of the house upon you vacating that you can then compare with the agents report

The inventory being carried out by Caboodle isn't really much of a concern.  My concern is that I do not have access to my meter readings on the day I am intending to move out!

I would seak to the neighbours and ask them to let you into the garage either on 6th, or on the date they move out if it is earlier. That way you would have photos of the meters reasonably close to the date that you move out to compare the end reading to.

girlinabox

SusieT said:

girlinabox said:

Robbo66 said:

girlinabox said:

Robbo66 said:

Why try and complicate things, just ring the agency and ask them to do the checkout early making clear that you will be out of the country and unable to make the date. Have you even spoken to the agency and if so what was their response?

I just did, and this was their (unhelpful) response:

"The inventory is carried out by Caboodle and then you can make comments as you mentioned. We would not typically meet at the property, all key handovers and returns take place at our office.

Your tenancy will end on the 11th as per the notice terms of your contract so we maintain that the 11th is the end date, your keys and any fobs will need to be returned by 12pm on the 11th so if you wished to return sooner then you are welcome to. Following this, a checkout report will be carried out by Caboodle."

Can we insist that someone comes to read the meters with us on 6th? It's surely illegal to not have access? 

Your tenancy can still end on the 11th, you could find a registered inventory clerk local to you and ask them to do a checkout and report for you on the day you leave and drop off the keys, less hassle than complaining and it will also give you written evidence of the condition of the house upon you vacating that you can then compare with the agents report

The inventory being carried out by Caboodle isn't really much of a concern.  My concern is that I do not have access to my meter readings on the day I am intending to move out!

I would seak to the neighbours and ask them to let you into the garage either on 6th, or on the date they move out if it is earlier. That way you would have photos of the meters reasonably close to the date that you move out to compare the end reading to.

Thank you, I've asked to speak to them so will see what they say. I have also emailed the LA back to insist that someone gives us access to read our meters and that this should be provided as we are the occupiers and bill payers. Maybe that'll work, I don't know the legalities of it all 🤷‍♀️