Ending your tenancy

What you need to do if you want to end your tenancy

• You need to give four weeks notice and you have to do this in writing using the Notice of tenancy termination form (A). The notice period always starts from the first Monday after we receive the form.
• You don't need to give four weeks notice if we've offered you a transfer to another property or you're undertaking a mutual exchange.
• You must make sure that the property, gardens and outbuildings are left clean, tidy and in good condition and remove all your belongings before you move out. If you do not do this we will have to charge you.
• You must pay any outstanding rent and other debts.
• All keys to the property need to be handed in by 10am on the Monday after the tenancy is terminated. There will be a full rental charge for all weeks before the keys are received.  Please don't post your keys through the letterbox.  

To find your local neighbourhood office please click here.

What to do about your tenancy if you're going into prison

•  Let us know if you're going to prison,  if you're on remand or if you're serving a prison sentence. If you can't contact us a relative, probation officer or prison liason officer can do this for you.
• If the tenant decides to end the tenancy, you need to give four weeks notice and you have to do this in writing using the Notice of tenancy termination form (A).
• If you are going to be away for more than 13 weeks it may be in your best interests to end your tenancy because your housing benefit may stop. Housing benefit will be stopped from the first Sunday after you are sentenced. If it does stop you'll be responsible for paying the full rent.
• You must make sure that the property, gardens and outbuildings are left clean, tidy and in good condition and remove all your belongings before you move out. If you do not do this we will have to charge you.

What to do if you're representing a tenant who's going into hospital or a nursing home

• You or a family member needs to contact one of our neighbourhood offices with the date when the tenant is due to go into the nursing home or hospital and the date that stay becomes permanent. If the tenant decides to end the tenancy, you need to give four weeks notice and you have to do this in writing using the Notice of tenancy termination form (A). The notice period always starts from the first Monday after you write to us.
• A room in a nursing home counts as property for housing benefit purposes and housing benefit cannot be paid on more than one property at the same time. If you are planning on staying in a nursing home it might be in your best interests to end your tenancy with Bolton at Home.
• The tenant or a representative must keep us informed and updated in terms of decisions about their intention to return to their home. If you have any queries please contact our income management team on  or your local neighbourhood office.
• You also need to fill out a Notice of tenancy termination form (A) on behalf of the tenant.
  You must make sure that the property, gardens and outbuildings are left clean, tidy and in good condition and remove all your belongings before you move out. If you do not do this we will have to charge you.
• You must pay any outstanding rent and other debts.
• The keys to the property need to be handed in by 10am on the Monday after the tenancy is terminated. Please don't post your keys through the letterbox.  Note that all our offices are open on Monday by 9.30am except Blackburn Road which opens in the afternoon only (so please choose a different office or hand in your keys before the weekend between 2-4pm on the Friday afternoon).

What to do if you're representing a tenant who has recently died

• Contact your local neighbourhood office with the date that the tenant died using Notice of tenancy termination form (B) to formally end the tenancy.
• We work to a  four week notice period to end the tenancy. However as we understand this can be a difficult time we can accept a two week notice period. This starts on the first Monday after you inform us of the tenant's death.
• You must make sure that the property, gardens and outbuildings are left clean, tidy and in good condition and remove all your belongings before you move out. If you do not do this we will have to charge you.
• You must pay any outstanding rent and other debts. 
• The keys to the property need to be handed in by 10am on the Monday after the tenancy is terminated. Please don't post your keys through the letterbox.  Note that all our offices are open on Monday by 9.30am except Blackburn Road which opens in the afternoon only (so please choose a different office or hand in your keys before the weekend between 2-4pm on the Friday afternoon).

For more information on what your options are following the death of a tenant please click here.