“Early move-out” refers to leaving the property before the official end date of the lease. This is technically considered a break of contract, meaning the tenant may be required to continue paying rent for the remainder of the lease term until a new tenant takes over. Additionally, the security deposit may not be refunded until the lease obligations are fulfilled.

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☑️ What to do?

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1️⃣ Notify the landlord at least 2 months before moving out.

• This allows the landlord to list the property with a real estate agency.

2️⃣ Show the property for inspections arranged by the real estate agency.

• If you’re unavailable, they may request the door lock code for inspections, which is commonly shared as a practice. However, be sure to securely store any valuables.

3️⃣ If the next tenant is found through the real estate agency, you are responsible for paying the agency fee due to breaking the lease early.

• The agency fee is calculated based on the property’s price (deposit and rent) at the time of your move-out.
• If you find the next tenant yourself through your network or community, you may not need to pay the agency fee.

4️⃣ Once the next tenant is confirmed, you can receive your deposit back and move out.

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🧐 FAQs

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• ❓Do I need to follow the above process if I move out 1–2 weeks before the contract ends?
• ❓What do you mean that “The agency fee is calculated based on the property’s price (deposit and rent) at the time of your move-out” ?