Residents » Overview » When You Leave

When leaving Sydney, you will need to inform certain authorities.

• Moving out – notify a removal company at least two months before you plan to go, as they can book up well in advance. And don’t forget it can take up to three months to ship a container of goods from Sydney to Europe.

• Winding up a lease – give the full notice required on your rental agreement so you can claim back your bond. If the landlord refuses to refund the bond and you disagree with the reasons, try negotiating first, and then contact the NSW Office of Fair Trading (www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au). See the Tenant’s Union website (www.tenants.org.au) and p.83 for more information.

• Disconnecting – notify utilities at least one month before you are due to leave. They will need a forwarding address to send your final bills to.

• Finances – notify your bank, accountant/tax agent and the ATO. If you have one, contact your Australian online share registry (you may not be able to continue to trade shares when you leave).

• Immigration – notify your immigration official at least one month before your planned departure. They will advise you if anything needs to be done.

• Property – if you own property and want to rent it out, there may be non-resident implications. You will be able to keep a bank account open for mortgage payments. See p. 77.