Move Out Information

Moving out can be a difficult process for a tenant to navigate. To help you Metropolitan Property Services has prepared this informative guide to assist in moving out, including a notice to vacate document to submit at the appropriate time.

Giving Notice

Metropolitan Property Services (MPS), in accordance with your lease terms requires that all tenants provide our team with 30-days notice prior to vacating a property. The notice to vacate format at the end of this guide should be used when preparing to move out of an MPS rental home.

Prior to giving notice:

Double check the original rental agreement/lease that you signed at the start of your tenancy to ensure you are eligible to give notice. Your lease will provide you with the exact move out date, if you require a new copy, please contact the MPS office. Remember, that lease is a binding agreement for a certain period of time.
Notice must be given in writing and your 30-days begins the day that the MPS office receives your notice.
References will not be provided to future landlords unless a notice to vacate has been provided to MPS.
Should you like to have a pre-move out inspections performed it must be requested in writing to MPS. All inspections must be scheduled with an member of the MPS team during business operating hours.
It is the tenant’s responsibility to return all keys and openers to the MPS office upon move out.
Failure to deliver keys and openers may be cause for additional charges.
Supply a forwarding address to MPS for return of security deposit funds.

Preparing the Property for Vacancy

When it’s time to move out, we expect the property to be returned to MPS in the same or better condition as it was given to you on the day you took possession. If you’ve maintained the property appropriately, this should be easy! To clarify, we’ve put together this list of expectations for your reference.

Please ensure that the following is complete:

Have the property throughly cleaned – interior and the exterior.
Ensure that all flooring has been properly cleaned. For example, if the property you rented with us has carpet then it will need to be professionally cleaned prior to handing over the keys to the property. Always keep receipts for professional cleanings and provide them to MPS for review.
Clear out and clean up debris and animal feces from the exterior of the property.
Wipe down all blinds in the home – do not use harsh chemicals on the blinds.
Clean all windows inside and out.
Replace burned out light bulbs
Replace non-working smoke detector batteries
Replace Missing doorstops
Change the heating and cooling system filters before you vacate the property, making sure you use the correct size.
Remove all trash and debris from the interior and exterior of the property.
Clean driveways and garage areas for all grease or oil drips and ensure that motor oil has been disposed of properly.
Have any excess trash hauled away prior to vacancy.
Do not touch up paint unless you are certain the paint is a match. Check with the MPS office for approval.
There may be additional charges if painting is required due to tenant painting.
Charges for painting depend on whether it exceeds normal wear and tear, and the length of time in the property.

Pet owners should remember

Pet owners should remember to complete the following

Pet owners should remember to complete the following, prior to vacating the premises of a rental property:

Make sure that carpets are professionally cleaned and chemically deodorized.
Enlist a professional pest control contractor for all possible animal borne pests including, but not necessarily limited to, fleas and ticks.

A Note About Your Security Deposit

Following the move out policies and procedures and returning the rental property in good condition means a quicker security deposit refund. MPS will remit your security deposits within 21-days in accordance with the State of California landlord/tenant law. Once you’re moved out, please make sure we have an accurate forwarding address to send your security deposit refund. It’s our sincere hope that this process is quick and pleasant for everyone! If you have any questions regarding the move out

Sample Notice of Intent to Vacate

NOTICE OF INTENT TO VACATE (format)
Date:

To: Metropolitan Property Services (agent for owner)

Re: Notice of Intent to Vacate

Property:

As of today’s date, we the tenants at the above referenced property, hereby give a ______ day notice of our intent to
vacate. We will vacate the premises on the date of ________________________.

We understand we are obligated to pay rent until the end of our notice and/or lease.
We understand that Metropolitan Property Services, as agent for the owner, has 21-days in which to return any unused portion of our security deposit and that, unless we provide a forwarding address below, this will be mailed to the Property address.
We give permission for Metropolitan Property Services to provide references to other property owners inquiring about our rental history.
The following notices are provided pursuant to California law.
Pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1950.5 you have the right to request, and be present at, an initial inspection of the property prior to your vacating. In order to avoid confusion, please make any request to our office in writing. Legally, the inspection cannot take place any more than two weeks before the date you vacate and/or the end of the lease.
Assembly Bill 2521 states that the total resell value of individual real estate assets (aka: “various stuff and junk”) remaining behind by a renter after the termination of a tenancy that the property owner must sell at a public auction (rather than get rid of or maintain for his or her own use), has been set at $700. AB 2521 also prevents a property owner or manager from charging a storage space fee if the renter reclaims the personal property within (2) days of vacating the unit.
State law permits former tenants to reclaim abandoned personal property left at the former address of the tenant, subject to certain conditions. You may or may not be able to reclaim property without incurring additional costs, depending on the cost of storing the property and the length of time before it is reclaimed. In general, these costs will be lower the sooner you contact your former landlord after being notified that property belonging to you was left behind after you moved out.

Tenant Date

Please provide forwarding address if known: