• Moving Out

• TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS TO PROVE THAT YOU CLEANED AND HAVE DONE NO DAMAGE. Be sure to get pictures of the insides of oven, refrigerator, cabinets, toilet, tub and sink, as well as photographs of walls, carpets and floors. It's good to have a witness (not your roommate or a member of your family) watch you take your photographs. If you've rented a house, be sure to photograph the basement, attic and the outside to show you have left no trash and that the lawn is mowed and free of debris. If you are subletting, come back at the end of the lease to check the condition and take photographs again. Use a film camera to take photographs. If you use only a digital camera, the landlord might say you "photo-shopped" the damage out of the picture. Many tenants use a digital camera because it's easier to send the pictures to the landlord by email if there's a dispute, but they use a disposable camera as back up and don't even pay to have the film developed unless the landlord challenges the validity of the digital pictures.

• Contact the public utility companies to arrange for termination of service. If you move out before the day your lease ends, you might be responsible for keeping utilities on until the last day of the lease. Check the contract. If you move during winter months, you have to leave the heat and water on so that pipes don't freeze. When you terminate your utility service, even in the SUMMER, be sure to unplug the refrigerator and securely prop open the refrigerator door. This will prevent mildew growth inside.

• COMPLETE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM AT THE POST OFFICE SO THAT YOUR MAIL WILL BE FORWARDED. This protects your rights regarding deposit refund and prevents loss of other mail. Go to www.usps.com/umove.

• If you have any special arrangement with the landlord for staying after the lease ends, even if just for a few days, write up the agreement and ask the landlord to sign it. Staying after the lease ends without proof of landlord's consent can cost you a lot of money.

• In preparing to move out, you need to clean thoroughly. This always means you must clean the oven -- inside and out, clean and defrost the refrigerator (unplug it, don't use a sharp instrument), clean the bathroom, kitchen, all floors, etc. Read your lease to see if you have agreed to any special cleaning such as carpet shampoo or window washing. NOTE: If you have not been cleaning very often during your lease, you might not get the floors clean enough if you simply use a standard sponge mop. You'll probably have to get down on your hands and knees and scrub. The bath tub will also need some scrubbing if you have not been cleaning it frequently during the lease.

• Be certain that you have discarded all trash. Landlords usually charge tenants for removing trash that is left behind.

• Do not leave any furniture or other personal belongings unless you are willing to give them up forever and possibly pay the cost of having them removed.

• Return all keys directly to the landlord and obtain a receipt for the keys. If you write up the receipt and ask the landlord to sign it, you will protect yourself from an unjustified charge for lock change resulting from failure to return all keys.

Tenant Union | 326 Illini Union, MC-384, 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801 | 217.333.0112