SAYING GOOD-BYE
It's time to start something new
and leave your university home behind
GOAL
Leave the place the way you found it
TAKE all of your possessions by carefully checking your bedroom AND all the common areas.
SORT through the things you do not want and find new homes for discarded possessions if possible.
THROW OUT all of the garbage.
LEAVE all the original furnishings and blinds in place.
CLEAN, CLEAN, and then CLEAN some more.
EXPECT TO HAVE YOUR PLACE inspected during April to determine if repairs need to done.
RETURN the key in an agreed upon space or drop it off in a labelled envelope at 421 Barrington Lane, Waterloo.
YOU CAN DO IT: Plan Ahead, Start Early, Work Cooperatively
Plan with your housemates how the huge job of cleaning up the common areas--living room, hallways, kitchen, bathrooms, entries, and laundry areas--will be fairly divided. This may require residents who leave early to come back to assist the residents leaving last. Early leavers may wish to treat their housemate to thank them for their extra efforts. The whole group may decide to chip in to hire a professional cleaner.
Dispose of most of the garbage a week before the last person leaves using their usual recycling and garbage practices. Remember that the City inflicts fines if things are put out at the curb earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the day prior to collection.
Submit a Maintenance Request Form whenever the dumpster is almost full.
Plan to donate good items and sealed non-perishable foods you no longer want. You can leave us one or two boxes labelled "Charity" and we will help you out.
Contact us if you are leaving something for a future resident. Sadly, we must dispose of anything left behind if we have not been informed who it is for and will charge you for the costs of removal! Landlords may dispose of items left behind after tenants vacate after they have provided legal notice unless there has been an agreement to store items as explained here.
Dispose of most of the garbage a week before the last person leaves using their usual recycling and garbage practices. Remember that the City inflicts fines if things are put out at the curb earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the day prior to collection.
Submit a Maintenance Request Form whenever the dumpster is almost full.
Plan to donate good items and sealed non-perishable foods you no longer want. You can leave us one or two boxes labelled "Charity" and we will help you out.
Contact us if you are leaving something for a future resident. Sadly, we must dispose of anything left behind if we have not been informed who it is for and will charge you for the costs of removal! Landlords may dispose of items left behind after tenants vacate after they have provided legal notice unless there has been an agreement to store items as explained here.
HAVE A LOOK BACK AT PHOTOS TAKEN THE DAY YOU MOVED IN.
REMEMBER: WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT ITEMS LEFT BEHIND FOR AN INCOMING RESIDENT WILL NOT GO MISSING OR BE DAMAGED!
LEAVE LOTS OF TIME FOR CLEANING. IT ALWAYS TAKES MUCH, MUCH LONGER THAN PEOPLE ANTICIPATE.
REMEMBER: WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT ITEMS LEFT BEHIND FOR AN INCOMING RESIDENT WILL NOT GO MISSING OR BE DAMAGED!
LEAVE LOTS OF TIME FOR CLEANING. IT ALWAYS TAKES MUCH, MUCH LONGER THAN PEOPLE ANTICIPATE.
WHAT'S EXPECTED: You're Responsible for your Bedroom & the Common Areas
Remove all possessions, including your hangers and garbage unless you have checked with us and we have agreed to retain something
Sweep and vacuum floors and carpets, including the floors in the closets
Wipe down all surfaces (walls, window sills, closet shelf, floor, furniture, counters, appliances), removing any dirt or marks
Gently remove all tacks or nails from the wall so as to make sure that you do not damage the wall. If you used tape or other glues to hang things in contravention of your lease, Goo-Gone or similar products remove most sticky residues.
Re-install anything removed (i.e., closet door, window blinds, mirrors).
Empty ALL contents of drawers and cupboards wiping out with a damp cloth any debris and dirt that has accumulated inside.
Clean out the fridge and its freezer, emptying all contents and wiping the interior and exterior to remove all marks and substances
Clean the stove, all of its surfaces and oven racks. Run the self-clean function for the oven (remove racks, pull out stove, stay home)
Clean the mirrors, toilets, sinks, taps, and tubs in the bathrooms. CLR is a good heavy-duty cleanser and vinegar is excellent for removing lime deposits on any shower glass walls
Remove all items which were not present when you took possession.
Empty all garbage and recycling to the designated areas. Check out information from the City of Waterloo here.
Do not store anything for incoming residents without first clearing it with us (and recognizing that we will not be responsible for its safe delivery).
Sweep and vacuum floors and carpets, including the floors in the closets
Wipe down all surfaces (walls, window sills, closet shelf, floor, furniture, counters, appliances), removing any dirt or marks
Gently remove all tacks or nails from the wall so as to make sure that you do not damage the wall. If you used tape or other glues to hang things in contravention of your lease, Goo-Gone or similar products remove most sticky residues.
Re-install anything removed (i.e., closet door, window blinds, mirrors).
Empty ALL contents of drawers and cupboards wiping out with a damp cloth any debris and dirt that has accumulated inside.
Clean out the fridge and its freezer, emptying all contents and wiping the interior and exterior to remove all marks and substances
Clean the stove, all of its surfaces and oven racks. Run the self-clean function for the oven (remove racks, pull out stove, stay home)
Clean the mirrors, toilets, sinks, taps, and tubs in the bathrooms. CLR is a good heavy-duty cleanser and vinegar is excellent for removing lime deposits on any shower glass walls
Remove all items which were not present when you took possession.
Empty all garbage and recycling to the designated areas. Check out information from the City of Waterloo here.
Do not store anything for incoming residents without first clearing it with us (and recognizing that we will not be responsible for its safe delivery).
CLOSING YOUR UTILITY ACCOUNTS: time to settle up all debts
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Don't forget to cancel your utility accounts as of April 30th! If you wish to turn off services prior to that date, please contact us.
To close your accounts, for electricity, go here; for gas, go here; and for water, go here. Make sure you pay your last water bill in June. IF you have been having your mail delivered to your home in Waterloo, complete this form to have future mail forwarded to you or you may miss important cheques and notices from the government. Alternatively, immediately contact everyone who has your current address and get them to update their records. |
PAYING DAMAGES:
If the key is not returned by 6:00 p.m. on the last day of your lease, you will lose your Key Deposit. Key deposits are sent out via email transfer by May 15th at the latest. Let us know if you prefer a cheque mailed to your parent's home mid-May (or to an alternative address).
We are not out "to get you" and are happy to absorb reasonable costs involved in preparing your home for incoming residents. However, you will be charged damages for extra cleaning and disposal of items left for us to clear. You will also be expected to pay for accidental or purposeful breakage of specific items which require either repair or replacement. Read here what the Landlord Tenant Board says about damages.
General damages are assigned if a bedroom or the common areas are not returned to the condition of general habitability (i.e., clean and empty of items brought into the rental unit). General damages are $75 per bedroom (to be assigned to the student who lived in the room) and/or $200 for the common area (to be apportioned equally among all residents at $40/tenant). All you need do to avoid this cost is to make sure the place is left empty and clean.
Specific damages are invoiced according to the costs of repair or replacement. You are not billed for most repairs, since we consider them part of "wear and tear". You are, however, responsible for damages which result from either the negligence or willful act of you or your guests. The direct cost of repairing or replacing items in the bedrooms is billed to the resident who lived there. The cost of repairs and replacements in the common areas will be divided into five shares and billed to each resident unless someone comes forward to take personal responsibility.
We are not out "to get you" and are happy to absorb reasonable costs involved in preparing your home for incoming residents. However, you will be charged damages for extra cleaning and disposal of items left for us to clear. You will also be expected to pay for accidental or purposeful breakage of specific items which require either repair or replacement. Read here what the Landlord Tenant Board says about damages.
General damages are assigned if a bedroom or the common areas are not returned to the condition of general habitability (i.e., clean and empty of items brought into the rental unit). General damages are $75 per bedroom (to be assigned to the student who lived in the room) and/or $200 for the common area (to be apportioned equally among all residents at $40/tenant). All you need do to avoid this cost is to make sure the place is left empty and clean.
Specific damages are invoiced according to the costs of repair or replacement. You are not billed for most repairs, since we consider them part of "wear and tear". You are, however, responsible for damages which result from either the negligence or willful act of you or your guests. The direct cost of repairing or replacing items in the bedrooms is billed to the resident who lived there. The cost of repairs and replacements in the common areas will be divided into five shares and billed to each resident unless someone comes forward to take personal responsibility.
Generally our residents have not been asked to pay damages
because they have worked hard to return their home to its original condition
and they have either not damaged any property or paid for damages as they have occurred.
because they have worked hard to return their home to its original condition
and they have either not damaged any property or paid for damages as they have occurred.
ALL THE BEST IN THE FUTURE!
