Ending your tenancy

How do I end my council tenancy?

To end your tenancy you must give us four weeks written notice, ending on a Monday. You can do this by printing off, completing and returning the notice of termination of tenancy form below (it cannot be completed online as it must be signed).  If you have a joint tenancy both tenants should sign the form where possible.  

The form cannot be completed and returned electronically as it must be signed. 

Any notices that are not signed cannot be accepted and this may delay your period of notice.  If you would prefer us to send you a termination of tenancy form please contact us on (01482) 396301 or email housing.services@eastriding.gov.uk.

Notice of termination of council tenancy form (pdf 84kb opens in new window)

The form should be returned to your area housing office:

East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Housing Services East Area
County Hall
Cross Street
Beverley
HU17 9BA.

Housing Services North Area
Town Hall
Quay Road
Bridlington
YO16 4LP.

Housing Services West Area
Council Offices
Church Street
Goole
DN14 5BG.

The following PDF document shows the towns and villages covered by each office:

Council Housing Management Area Map (pdf 218kb)

Your tenancy is a legal agreement and will not automatically end when you move out of the property. On receipt of the notice, we will write to you to confirm the date that the tenancy will end.

If you are joint tenants, the whole tenancy will end if you or the other tenant ends the tenancy on their own.

My parent has died, how do I end their council tenancy?

If a council tenancy ends because the tenant has died (and there is no surviving tenant or successor) we may accept a shorter period of notice than four weeks, but not less than one clear week. If this is the case you should print off, complete and return the notice of termination of tenancy on the death of tenant form below.  

The form cannot be completed and returned electronically as it must be signed. 

Any notices that are not signed cannot be accepted and this may delay your period of notice.  

If you would prefer us to send you a termination of tenancy form please contact us on (01482) 396301 or email housing.services@eastriding.gov.uk.

Notice of termination of council tenancy on death of tenant form (pdf 82kb)

The form should be returned to the area housing office:

East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Housing Services East Area
County Hall
Cross Street
Beverley
HU17 9BA.

Housing Services North Area
Town Hall
Quay Road
Bridlington
YO16 4LP.

Housing Services West Area
Council Offices
Church Street
Goole
DN14 5BG.

The following pdf document shows the towns and villages covered by each office:

Council Housing Management Areas Map (pdf 218kb)

As the tenant’s representative, you must clear the property of all possessions and rubbish before we will end the tenancy.

On receipt of the notice, we will write to you to confirm the date that the tenancy will end.

What do I need to do before I move outof my council home?

When you give notice we may wish to inspect the property (by appointment) before the tenancy ends, you must allow us access to do so.

Before you move out of your property you should:

• pay your rent up to the Monday on which the tenancy ends, and any arrears from previous tenancies
• complete all repairs that are your responsibility, as specified in your conditions of tenancy. We will recharge you for the cost of any such repairs if we have to do them after your tenancy has ended
• if you have made any unauthorised improvements or alterations to the property you must put the property back the way it was before they were carried out – we will recharge you for the cost of works required to reinstate the property
• repair any damage to our fixtures and fittings – we will recharge you the cost of any works to repair damage
• tell our housing benefit section, if you receive housing benefit
• let us have a forwarding address.

When you move out (or at the latest by 12 noon on the Monday on which your tenancy ends) you must return all house, garage, shed and outbuilding keys and any communal key fobs to the customer service centre specified in the notice acceptance letter.

• remove all furniture, carpets, belongings and rubbish from the property, garden and outbuildings – we will recharge you for the cost of removing and disposing of any items left after your tenancy has ended.
• ensure that the property is clean
• take meter readings and give them to your utility supplier.
• cancel any regular deliveries, such as milk or newspapers.
• redirect your mail. You can arrange this via the Royal Mail website:
  Royal Mail (external website)

When you move out everyone must leave, including lodgers or sub-tenants. If they don't, we will take action to evict them and you will be charged for the costs of doing so.

I’ve moved out of my council home but not ended my tenancy, what will happen?

If you stop living at your council home but do not give notice to end the tenancy, we may assume that you have abandoned the property and take action to repossess it. You will be responsible for the property and for paying the rent until we get possession so please ensure that you give notice to end your tenancy.

If you are going to be away from home for a long period, such as a long holiday or time in hospital you should let your area housing office know, to avoid any action being taken and to give us a contact number in the event of an emergency such as a water leak.

Email: housing.services@eastriding.gov.uk 
Tel: (01482) 396301.