Moving out checklist

Information for Queensland public housing tenants.

Before you move out

Complete the following tasks before moving out of your home:

• Read your rights and responsibilities in the Pocket guide for tenants – houses and units (Form 17a), which you received when you signed the tenancy agreement.
• Contact your nearest Housing Service Centre at least 14 days before you leave and tell them you want to move out. If you don't, you might have to pay rent after you leave.
• Complete a Notice of intention to leave (Form 13).
• Pay any rent you owe up to the handover day (the agreed date you’re leaving).
• Tell us your new address or an address where we can contact you.
• Make sure your home (including the yard) is clean and tidy and take all your belongings with you.
• Complete an Exit condition report (Form 14a). This is your record of the condition of your home when you leave.
• Contact your nearest Housing Service Centre to arrange a joint pre-vacancy inspection of your home. We can help you complete the Exit condition report (Form 14a) and talk to you about the condition of your home before you leave. This may help reduce or prevent charges for repairs (other than fair wear and tear), cleaning or rubbish removal.
• Return the keys to your nearest Housing Service Centre on handover day with the completed Exit condition report (Form 14a). If you don’t return the keys, we will take possession of your home and change the locks.

After you move out

Once you move out, we will:

• inspect the property check for any repairs, cleaning or rubbish removal needed and ensure you haven't left any belongings behind
• finalise your rental account up to the handover day
• send you a letter to let you know if there are any outstanding charges for rent or maintenance
• refund you any money left in your rental account (if you have more than $5 credit) if you’ve given us a forwarding address – this may take up to 6 weeks.

Final property inspection

We will inspect the property again after you move out. During the final inspection, we compare the property’s condition to when you moved in, using the Entry condition report (Form 1a).

This helps us see what repairs are needed because of fair wear and tear. We don’t charge you for this type of repair.

We do charge you for any repairs needed due to damage, as well as for cleaning, mowing or rubbish removal from the property.

Goods left behind

If you leave any belongings behind, we will either dispose or store them for 1 month. If stored items are not collected within 1 month, we will apply for an order from Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) to dispose of them.

You may be charged for costs to store or dispose of your goods.

If you realise you’ve leave something behind once you’ve move out, contact your nearest Housing Service Centre as soon as possible.

Debts for rent or maintenance

If you owe money for rent or maintenance/repairs, we will send you a letter with the details and contact you to make a repayment arrangement. Maintenance charges may include:

• repairs (other than fair wear or tear)
• cleaning
• mowing
• rubbish removal
• costs relating to goods left behind (storage and/or disposal).

Read more about maintenance debts.

Getting a rental reference

If you would like a rental reference, ask your nearest Housing Service Centre.

Who to tell when you’re moving

It is important to update your contact details when you move, which includes:

• electricity, phone, internet, and gas service providers
• insurance providers: house contents, health, life, and car
• employer
• banks, credit unions or finance providers
• Services Australia – Centrelink, Medicare, and Child Support
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
• Australian Tax Office (ATO)
• Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)
• education providers (e.g. day care, kindergarten, school, outside school hours care, university/TAFE)
• health providers (e.g. dentist, doctor and optometrist)
• newspaper and other subscription services
• car registration
• driver’s licence
• superannuation funds
• vehicle breakdown service (e.g., RACQ)
• veterinary surgery
• pet registration (local council)
• Pet Microchip Registry
• Linkt (road toll tags).

You can pay Australia Post to redirect your mail to your new address.