Moving out usually costs your final rent for the whole notice period, plus cleaning, a van or removals, any days of overlap with your new rent, final bills, post redirection and sometimes storage. In our fictional example below, the extras come to £650.89 on top of the final rent.
Final rent and your notice period
You keep paying rent until your tenancy ends, even if you move out early. How much notice you give depends on where you live.
- England: since 1 May 2026, private tenancies roll on from month to month or week to week, and tenants can end them with two months’ notice. The end date must line up with the end of a rent period.
- Scotland: with a private residential tenancy, you must give your landlord at least 28 days’ notice in writing. If you send it by email or letter, allow 2 extra days for it to arrive.
- Wales and Northern Ireland: the rules are different. Check your tenancy agreement and local advice before you give notice.
Give notice as early as you can, so you are not paying for two homes for longer than you need to.
Cleaning and getting your deposit back
Shelter England says you only need to clean your home to the same standard as when you moved in. A clause saying you must pay for professional cleaning is not fair, and your landlord cannot make you do it.
Your landlord cannot keep any of your deposit for fair wear and tear. That means changes caused by normal everyday living, such as small scuffs on walls, faded curtains or worn carpets. Any deductions must be reasonable and relate to money the landlord has lost.
Compare the home with your check-in inventory before you leave, and keep evidence of its condition. In England, your landlord must return your deposit within 10 days of you both agreeing how much you will get back. If you disagree, the deposit stays protected in the scheme until the dispute is sorted out.
If you clean yourself, budget for supplies and a few hours before the check-out.
Other moving-out costs
Removals, van hire and storage
- Van hire: the hire charge plus fuel. Check what the hire includes before you book.
- Removal firm: get more than one written quote, and tell each firm about stairs, parking and large items.
- Packing: boxes, tape and bubble wrap.
- Storage: you may need it if your move-out and move-in dates do not match, or the new place is smaller.
Overlap, final bills and post
Overlap with your new rent. If your new tenancy starts before the old one ends, you pay both for those days. Our guide to budgeting for overlap between tenancies shows how to keep it short.
Final energy bills. Citizens Advice says you should give your gas and electricity supplier at least 48 hours’ notice that you are moving. Read your meters on the day you move out, give the readings to your supplier, and keep a note of the readings and dates in case you disagree with your final bill. Your supplier must send the final bill within 6 weeks, and you have 28 days to pay it.
Also tell your water company, broadband provider and council (for Council Tax) your moving date.
Post redirection. Royal Mail can redirect your post to your new address for 3, 6 or 12 months. It charges a fee, so check the current price on Royal Mail’s website when you book.
Checklist budget (fictional)
Leon is moving from one rented flat in England to another. His new rent is £900 a month, and the two tenancies overlap by 10 days. All figures are made up to show the method.
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cleaning supplies | £20.00 |
| Van hire (one day) | £140.00 |
| Fuel | £30.00 |
| Boxes and tape | £25.00 |
| Overlap rent: £900 × 12 ÷ 365 × 10 days | £295.89 |
| Final energy bill | £60.00 |
| Storage (one month) | £80.00 |
| Total moving-out extras | £650.89 |
Leon also pays his final month’s rent on the old flat as normal, and he adds the Royal Mail redirection fee once he has checked it. If his landlord deducted anything from his deposit, that would come on top too.
Moving into a new rented home brings its own costs, such as a deposit and the first month’s rent. See the upfront costs of renting in the UK.
Add up your own move
Use the moving house cost calculator to add up removals, storage and your new home’s upfront costs in one place, so you know how much cash you need before you hand back the keys.
Related: Who do you need to tell when you move house?
Sources
- GOV.UK: When will the Renters’ Rights Act come into force?, checked 4 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Guide to the Renters’ Rights Act, checked 4 October 2026
- mygov.scot: Ending your tenancy as a private tenant, checked 4 October 2026
- Shelter England: What can a landlord keep from your deposit?, checked 4 October 2026
- Shelter England: Can landlords charge for cleaning and gardening?, checked 4 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Tenancy deposit protection, checked 4 October 2026
- Citizens Advice: Moving home and your energy supply, checked 4 October 2026
- Royal Mail: Redirection, checked 4 October 2026
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Report a possible error.