Moving home

Ending a tenancy

It is important to tell us if you want to leave your home and end your tenancy. If you do not tell us, you'll continue to pay rent, even if you have moved to another address.

You'll be able to end a:

Before you end your home tenancy

If you're ending your home tenancy, you’ll need to:

  • give us a minimum of 4 weeks’ notice of your intent to end your tenancy 
  • inform Medway Council Housing Revenues and Benefits Service to update your records
  • pay any outstanding rent or charges
  • phone the Housing Repairs Team on 01634 333 601 or freephone 0800 073 0073 to arrange a pre-void inspection of your home.

Ending a tenancy as a representative

If you're ending a tenancy as a representative, you'll need to be a legal power of attorney. 

To end a tenancy, you'll need to provide:

  • the tenant's name
  • address
  • legal paperwork of your power of attorney
  • your name, address, contact details and relationship to the tenant. 

If you are not the legal power of attorney, you'll need to contact the Housing Tenancy Team on 01634 333 344 to discuss the termination.

Ending a joint tenancy

If you have a joint tenancy, the whole tenancy will end if you or another joint tenant end the tenancy. 

If one joint tenant decides to end the tenancy, and the other wants to remain in the home, we may agree to give the remaining person a new tenancy for the same property. This is at the discretion of the council. 

If we do not agree to give the tenancy to the remaining person, we'll begin legal proceedings to recover the property from anyone remaining in the home. 

If a tenant dies

If you're ending a tenancy because of the death of a tenant, you'll need to be the executor or administrator of the will. A next of kin cannot legally end a tenancy. 

Before you start the form, you'll need to provide:

  • the tenant's name
  • address
  • the date the tenant passed away
  • a copy of the death certificate
  • legal paperwork showing you're the executor or administrator of the will
  • your name, address, contact details and relationship to the tenant. 

If you are not the executor or administrator of the will, you'll need to contact the Housing Tenancy Team on 01634 333 344 to discuss the termination.

If you have used the Tell Us Once service, you'll still need to complete the termination form to legally end the tenancy. 

A tenancy may continue if there is a surviving tenant, this is known as a survivorship. The surviving tenant will be responsible for the rent and bills.

Before you end your garage tenancy

If you're ending your garage tenancy, you'll need to:

  • give us a minimum of 1 weeks' notice of your intent to end your tenancy
  • remove all fixtures and fittings from the walls including nails or screws
  • remove any padlocks you have fitted
  • leave the garage locked. 

Before you start the form

You'll need to provide:

  • the tenant or tenants' name
  • your address and forwarding address
  • a copy of the death certificate if the tenant has passed away
  • the date the tenant passed away
  • your relationship to the tenant if the tenant has passed away
  • the reason you're ending a tenancy
  • your contact details.

This form is for tenants and people representing Medway Council tenants. 

End your property or garage tenancy

What happens next

After you have completed the form, your application will be passed onto the Housing Tenancy Team. 

A written confirmation and final rent statement up to the date you end your tenancy will be sent to you. 

We aim to get back to you within 5 working days.