Moving Out

Prepare Well in Advance

Prepare Well in Advance

• Ask for help from family and friends well in advance.
• Book a moving vehicle as soon as you know you will need it. There is a local shortage on April 30th and May 1st.
• Note: If you want to move into a new place early or move out late you must get permission of the landlord and the tenants whose lease you are overlapping. Some tenancies will not allow this kind of overlap so ask early!
• Start early! This is the easiest way to make moving less stressful whether you're moving into a new house or moving back home. If you start early, you can sell any belongings you no longer need or donate items to keep them out of the landfill.
• Look out for Drop or Swap Events around campus to get anything you need and donate things you don’t. This will keep it out of landfills!
• Start getting rid of things you don't want to take with you; sell clothing, furniture and household items on Queen's Facebook groups or Kijiji, donate non-perishable, unopened food items and get creative with your leftovers, recycle your old notes and papers, and consign textbooks at Tricolour Outlet.
• Do not dump garbage in dumpsters or on other people’s properties, not only is this inconsiderate, but this is also a chargeable offence - Click here for more information.

Perform a Pre-Departure Inspection

• Before you vacate your unit have your landlord, or their representative, come to your unit to inspect for cleaning requirements and damages.
• During your tenancy you are allowed “reasonable wear and tear”. Reasonable wear and tear is along the lines of a few holes in the wall from picture hooks or lightly-scuffed flooring. Unreasonable wear and tear may be something like large areas covered with double-sided tape from posters, burns in the kitchen counter-top, or flooring damaged because of lack of proper care (failing to vacuum)
• Tenants are responsible for replacing items damaged by negligent or willful misconduct of themselves or their guests (even if the guest was not invited). For some student tenants that has meant replacing area carpeting because of burns caused by clothes irons or candle wax. It can also mean replacing appliances such as refrigerators if proper care wasn't taken. Clean the fridge well, unplug it and leave the door ajar if the electricity is being disconnected before the start of the next tenancy.
• When you leave, remove everything you brought into the house unless clear, written arrangements to the contrary have been made. If, for instance, the incoming tenants have purchased your couch, inform the landlord and leave a note to that effect on the couch so that it doesn't get thrown out.
• Do not leave garbage in the unit. The incoming tenants may not move in right away and if your garbage rots in the unit, you are liable for damages – and damages in a contract mean money!