12 Common Mistakes to Avoid While Moving Out of a Rental Home

Moving out of a rented home is often more complicated than people expect. Renters often get lax about the legal, financial, and procedural requirements for moving out. If not cleared on time, it can lead to disputes with landlords, unnecessary deductions from the security deposit, etc. So, it's crucial to understand the common mistakes renters make while moving out. This guide will help you know the common mistakes tenants make, how to avoid financial losses, and ensure a smooth property handover.

Mistakes Renters Make While Moving Out - Quick Info Table

12 Most Common Mistakes Renters Make While Moving Out

There are several mistakes that tenants make while moving out. A list of those mistakes has been mentioned above in a few words. To help you understand them all, we have also provided a detailed explanation of these mistakes. Here are the common mistakes you can avoid to avoid unnecessary stress and financial loss.

1. Skipping Rental Agreement Review

One of the most common mistakes renters make when moving out is failing to review the entire rental agreement before vacating the property. Tenants often forget specific clauses that are related to the notice period, such as painting charges, professional cleaning, or damage liability. Almost all landlords strictly abide by the terms of the agreement when calculating deductions. Forgetting about them can lead to deductions from the security deposit, which is an unpleasant surprise. Therefore, it's recommended that you read the agreement carefully, as it will help you plan repairs, cleaning, and other necessary tasks. [1]

2. Missing Notice Period

Failing to provide the required notice before moving out is one of the most common mistakes tenants make. Usually, most agreements require a 30 or 60-day notice. Though many people consider verbal communication valid, it's best to keep it in writing as proof. Failing to provide a notice period may result in one month’s rent being deducted from the deposit. Before vacating a rented apartment, you should always give written notice and keep the confirmation for your records.

3. Poor Cleaning

Most tenants don’t realise how important it is to clean the house when moving out. Landlords generally provide houses in pristine condition before handing them over. They expect the same when they get their house back. Even if you can give it back spotless, you must at least do a basic cleaning before returning it. Dirty bathrooms, greasy kitchens, dusty shelves, and cluttered balconies often lead to cleaning charges. Deep cleaning before handover significantly improves the chances of receiving the full deposit. [1]

4. Ignoring Repairs

Small issues such as broken switches, loose door handles, chipped paint, nail holes, or leaking taps are often ignored. These issues seem quite insignificant, but landlords can charge very high fees for them. Fixing these issues can reduce the deduction amount. Failing to make repairs is one of the most common mistakes tenants make when moving out. It is recommended that you make all necessary repairs before moving out of an apartment. 

5. No Photos or Videos

Before moving out, you must take pictures or videos of the property. Failing to document the condition is a critical mistake and can turn into an expensive affair. Without photos or videos, tenants have little protection if the landlord claims damages later. You must always record clear photos and videos after cleaning and before handing over keys. This documentation acts as proof in case of disputes and strengthens your position. [6]

6. Pending Bills

A lot of tenants end up not paying the electricity, water, gas, internet, or maintenance bills for the last month. These unpaid amounts are deducted from the tenant's security deposit. Many tenants even forget to check the final bills or assume the landlord will adjust them fairly. Tenants need to clear all dues and collect all the necessary receipts to ensure transparency and avoid unnecessary deductions from their deposit. [5]

7. Cancelling or Transferring Services

Another common mistake renters make while moving out is forgetting about internet connections, DTH services, gas pipelines, newspaper subscriptions, and app-based services. Forgetting to cancel or transfer these services can lead to continued billing even after you’ve vacated the property. This is one of the most overlooked common mistakes tenants make while moving out, especially during rushed relocations.

8. Last-Minute Packing

Packing must be done a few weeks before moving out. Last-minute packing always leads to chaos, damaged items, misplaced belongings, and higher moving costs. Tenants who delay packing often make rushed decisions and forget important tasks like labelling boxes or separating the essentials. Planning and packing in advance helps reduce stress and ensures a smoother move-out experience. [4]

9. Unverified Movers

One of the first things a tenant must do after deciding to move is choose a verified packers and movers service. Selecting packers and movers solely based on low cost can be risky. Unverified service providers may mishandle items, delay delivery, or demand hidden charges. This mistake often turns relocation into a stressful experience. Always verify credentials, read reviews, and compare multiple quotes before finalising movers. NoBroker Packers and Movers are among the verified and trusted relocation service providers.

10. Address Not Updated

Another common mistake people make is failing to update their address with banks, employers, insurers, delivery apps, etc. This leads to some serious inconveniences. If any important documents are delivered to the old address, this may create security and privacy risks. You must always prioritise updating your addresses before moving out of a property. [6]

11. Items Left Behind

Before moving out, you must always check your storage spaces, wardrobes, lofts, kitchen cabinets, balconies, etc. These are commonly overlooked during final packing, and most tenants often realise items are missing only after handing over the keys. Once possession is transferred, retrieving belongings becomes difficult. Doing a final walkthrough helps avoid this mistake. [2]

12. Skipping Inspection

Skipping the final inspection or being unprepared for it is one of the most common mistakes tenants make when moving out. Being present allows you to clarify concerns, fix minor issues on the spot, and ensure transparency. A rushed or unattended inspection increases the chances of unfair deductions. [3]

These are some common mistakes renters make when moving out. These will help you when you plan to move out. 

How NoBroker Can Help?

NoBroker makes the move-out process easier by offering verified packers and movers, end-to-end relocation support, and transparent pricing with no hidden charges. They also ensure professional packing and safe transportation through timely coordination. NoBroker helps renters avoid common move-out mistakes and ensures a stress-free transition to their next home.