Notice to Quit Unless you have signed fixed term lease, you will have to submit a Notice to Quit. A Notice to Quit is a notification from you or the landlord to terminate the tenancy. Your lease will automatically renew unless you give your notice to quit. Your Notice to Quit must be served in writing to the person specified on your lease (either your landlord, superintendent or property owner). Below is an example of how you may write your Notice to Quit. Please visit Access Nova Scotia website for information and examples of Notice to Quit: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/forms/pdf/resten/0010055%20Notice%20to%20Quit.pdf If you do not want to continue your lease, then you must deliver this notice on the date specified on your lease. Type of Tenancy Yearly Monthly Weekly Notice in writing 3 months prior to anniversary date 1 month 1 week
You are responsible for you’re the full term of your tenancy. A Notice to Quit can not be given in hopes of ending a tenancy early. A Notice to Quit merely ensures that you are not financially obligated for an additional tenancy. For students, there are only two situations where a tenant can give a Notice to Quit, to terminate the lease earlier than the anniversary date. 1. Income reduction due to illness – If you can not work because you have suffered a significant deterioration of health resulting in reduce income and therefore can not make rent payments you must give 1 month notice and a certificate from your doctor 2. Deterioration in health If the doctor thinks that you are unable to continue your lease or the apartment building is no longer accessible to you due to health reasons In both of these situations you need to give one month’s notice and a certificate of a qualified medical practitioner evidencing the significant deterioration of your health. A landlord can also give you Notice to Quit, if s/he does not want you to return to the building for another tenancy. S/he does not have to give you a specific reason. S/he must give you notice: Type of Tenancy Yearly Monthly Weekly Notice in writing 3 months prior to anniversary date 3 month 4 weeks
A landlord can also terminate your lease early if: 1. You are thirty days late paying your rent in a year to year or monthly lease (15 days notice must be given) 2. You pose a risk to the safety or security of the landlord or other tenants in the same building (5 days notice must be given)
Leaving You Apartment In order to get your full damage deposit returned your apartment has to be in the same condition as when you moved in. If you do not clean the apartment, your landlord will charge you for the cleaning service that was necessary to prepare the apartment for the new tenant. You will not be charged for regular wear and tear such as a reasonable number of nail holes or worn carpet in a high traffic area. Do not try to repair damages on your own, unless you are an expert! Your attempts at repair may cost more to fix than the original damages. Don’t try to move and clean your apartment in the same day. Cleaning is a lot easier (and less exhausting!) if the majority of your furniture and belongings have already been moved. Get rid of large items and useless items you don’t want early. You can only dispose large items on certain collection days and you may also be limited to the number of garbage bags per week. Consider donating unused (unopened) food, furniture, clothing and house wares to local charities like the Salvation Army or Big Brother Big Sisters. Remember to discontinue your utilities when you end your tenancy and provide a forwarding address for your last bills. In Nova Scotia you are not obligated to continue services such as heat and electricity for any length of time after you tenancy. These services should be continued until the last day of your lease even if you moving out early. Otherwise, any damage that occurs (such as a pipe bursting because there is no heat) may be taken out of your damage deposit. Return your keys directly to the landlord and obtain a receipt. You may want to write the receipt yourself and ask the landlord to sign it. By doing this you will protect yourself from unjustified charges for lock changes because there is no record you returned the keys. The Damage Deposit After you have moved your belongings and have thoroughly cleaned the apartment, you and your landlord will do an out inspection. If an ininspection was done, the same form should be used. If your landlord determines that you are responsible for damage and wishes to pay for the damage with your deposit and you do not agree to take responsibility, s/he must file an application to the Tenancy Board. The application must be filed within ten days from the end of your lease. If an application has not been filed by this time, your landlord must return your damage deposit in full with interest. An application claiming damages can not include any cost associated with ordinary wear and tear. Return you keys directly to the landlord and obtain a receipt for the keys. If you write up the receipt ask your landlord to sign it. A receipt will protect you from unjustified charges for lock changes from failure to return all the keys. Check your lease for possible situations where money may be taken from your damage deposit. For example, for most apartments, you will have to have the carpet cleaned when you move out. Some leases specify that the landlord will automatically deduct the carpet cleaning charge from the damage deposit. This releases you from the responsibility of having the carpets cleaned. If your landlord determines that the apartment is in the same condition as when you moved in your damage deposit will be returned within 10 with interest. Remember to provide your landlord with your new mailing address so s/he knows where to send the cheque.
The following is a checklist you can use when cleaning you apartment: Bedroom Bedroom and closet empty of all furniture and personal belongings Walls and trim empty of all pictures, posters, nails and pins Walls, ceiling and trim free of all stickers, tape and adhesive Ceiling light fixtures free from dirt, insects and dust All light bulbs working and non colored Ceiling fans and blades clean Ceilings and corners free of cobwebs Smoke alarm clean and working battery Walls washed down Window sills and trim free from dirt and dust Baseboards and door trim free from dirt and dust Vacuum floor or mop if noncarpet Bathroom Remove all personal belongings from bathroom, medicine cabinet, closet, shelves, and under the sink Remove all pictures, posters, nails, pins, tape from walls and trim Remove dirt, insects, dust from ceilings and wall light fixtures Replace all non working or missing light bulbs Wash down walls Remove dirt and dust from window sills and trim Remove dirt and dust from base boards and trim Remove dirt and dust from closet trim and shelves Clean tub/shower and any wall tile Clean toilet Clean sink Clean under sink Clean vanity and mirrors Sweep and mop floors Kitchen Remove all personal belongings from cabinets, drawers, and shelves Clean shelves and doors in cabinets, drawers and shelves Remove all pictures, posters, nails, pins, tape from walls and trim Remove all dirt, insects, dust from ceiling and wall light fixtures Replace missing or burned out bulbs Wash down walls Remove dirt and dust from window sills and trim Remove dirt and dust from base board and door trim Remove dirt and dust from closet trim and shelves Clean under sink Empty and remove all debris from garbage disposal Replace burner pans Wash down range hood Clean oven and/or broiler Empty and dispose of all food from the refrigerator and freezer Wash down refrigerator Defrost freezer Do not turn off refrigerator Sweep and mop floors including underneath stove and refrigerator
Living Room Remove all furniture and personal belongings Remove all pictures, posters, nails, pins from walls and trim Remove a your carpets and floor mats Remove dirt, insects, dust from ceiling light fixtures Replace all non working or missing light bulbs Remove dirt and dust from ceiling fans and blades Ceiling and corners free of cobwebs Wash walls down Window sills and trim free of dirt and dust Base boards and trim free of dust and dirt Closet trim and shelves free of dirt and dust Floor vacuumed, mopped if not carpeted Other Common Areas Remove all furniture and personal belongings Remove all pictures, posters, nails, pins from walls and trim Remove a your carpets and floor mats Remove dirt, insects, dust from ceiling light fixtures Replace all non working or missing light bulbs Floor vacuumed, mopped if not carpeted Window sills and trim free of dirt and dust Base boards and trim free of dust and dirt