Cancel Places for People the easy way

Overview

Places for People is a UK housing and community services group that manages social and affordable housing, new homes and related support services across the United Kingdom. It operates services including tenancy management, shared ownership sales and a personal Lifeline alarm service.

Core services

The organisation provides general tenancy management, rent and service charge administration, shared ownership sales and a Lifeline telecare service for vulnerable residents.

Company facts

Official tenancy guidance and the formal ending-tenancy process are published on the company website. See the official tenancy ending page: https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/help-support/your-tenancy/ending-your-tenancy/

Web - online account

1. Sign in to your Places for People online account.
2. Find the tenancy section and select 'End your tenancy' or similar option.
3. Enter the leaving date ensuring the 4 weeks notice rule applies (start on Monday end on Sunday).
4. Submit the request and download or save the email confirmation.
5. If you do not receive a Notice to Quit, contact the Customer Contact Centre to request it.

Phone

1. Call the Customer Contact Centre on 01772 667002 and state you want to end your tenancy.
2. Provide your full name exactly as on the tenancy, the property address and the proposed leaving date.
3. Ask the advisor for the tenancy termination case reference and for a Notice to Quit to be emailed or posted to you.
4. Record the advisor name and time of call for your records.

Email

1. Compose an email from the tenancy account holder email address to [email protected].
2. Include your full name, tenancy address, tenancy reference if known and the date you want the tenancy to end.
3. Request a Notice to Quit and an acknowledgement; keep the sent email and any reply.
4. If you are emailing about an energy product in the 14-day cooling-off, use [email protected] and include the contract reference.

Post

1. Write a signed letter stating your request to end the tenancy, your full name and tenancy address and the intended end date with at least 4 weeks notice.
2. Send by Royal Mail signed-for to Places for People, PO Box 2070, Preston PR5 9BY.
3. Keep the proof of postage and follow up by phone or email if you do not receive acknowledgement.

Moving / Moving

If you are moving, the tenancy must be ended by the named person(s) on the tenancy agreement. You must give a minimum of 4 weeks written notice. The notice must start on a Monday and end on a Sunday. Provide the forwarding address and return keys on the agreed date. Applicable law: Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 for distance contracts where relevant.

Price increase

Places for People publishes rent and service charge reviews annually and communicates changes in February for implementation from 1 April. Price increases are notified and residents should consult the rent and service charges page: https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/help-support/payments-rents-and-charges/rent-and-service-charges/. If a contractual right to terminate exists in your tenancy agreement for a specific increase, follow that clause. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 on unfair contract terms.

Death of subscriber

In the event of a death, next of kin or legal representative should contact the Customer Contact Centre and provide a copy of the death certificate. The named tenancy holder remains the person authorised to end the tenancy unless a legal representative provides Power of Attorney or evidence of appointment. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 where service obligations apply.

Legitimate ground and legal representatives

Legal representatives with Power of Attorney or Court Appointed Deputy must contact Places for People via phone or email and provide evidence of their permission to act. Places for People accepts evidence such as a certified Power of Attorney document or court appointment letters. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015.

End of commitment

If the fixed term in the tenancy agreement expires, check your tenancy agreement for the required notice to end at the term. If the tenancy becomes periodic, the minimum notice remains 4 weeks (starting Monday ending Sunday) for tenants. Return keys and settle final charges as required.

Cooling-off period (services and energy)

For services arranged at a distance, you have a 14 day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. For the Lifeline telecare service and other distance contracts, if you cancel within 14 days you are normally entitled to a full refund unless you asked for services to start during the period. For energy contracts signed at a distance, email [email protected] within 14 days with the contract reference to cancel. Applicable law: Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.

Before cancelling: negotiate

Research does not record specific retention offers from Places for People. There is no publicly published standard retention discount. To request alternatives contact the Customer Contact Centre on 01772 667002 or email [email protected] and ask for available support options such as payment plans, referral to welfare or support services, or review of service charges.

What cancelling saves you

Example using the Lifeline service prices published by Places for People. Lifeline monthly subscription examples: use the two published monthly figures.

Option A: Lifeline at £20 per month. Calculation: £20 x 12 = £240 per year.

Option B: Lifeline at £21.50 per month. Calculation: £21.50 x 12 = £258 per year.

Installation one-off fees: professional installation £60 one-off; self-service installation £25 one-off. First year total examples:

First year cost - professional install + lower monthly: £60 + (12 x £20) = £60 + £240 = £300.

First year cost - self install + higher monthly: £25 + (12 x £21.50) = £25 + £258 = £283.

Optional add-ons start from £4 per month. Calculation: £4 x 12 = £48 per year for the lowest add-on. If you cancel the Lifeline subscription you save between £240 and £258 per year on subscription fees, plus any monthly add-ons such as £4 x 12 = £48 per year.

Competitor pricing in the research is not publicly disclosed. Competitors listed in research show '£Contact for quote' for pricing, so a direct priced alternative cannot be named from the public data.

Key UK consumer law

Your rights when cancelling are protected by the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 for distance and off premises contracts and by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for services that must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.

Cooling-off and refunds

You have a 14 day cooling-off period for most contracts concluded online or off premises under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. If you cancel during that period you are entitled to a refund; if you asked for services to begin during the period the supplier may keep an amount that reflects the service provided. Non refundable deposits must be reasonable and proportionate.

Auto-renewal and unfair terms

The Competition and Markets Authority treats hard-to-cancel subscriptions and unclear auto-renewal terms as potential unfair practices. If your contract contains a disproportionate cancellation penalty, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 offers protection against unfair contract terms.

How to escalate

Raise a formal complaint first with Places for People using their Customer Contact Centre and retain all written evidence. If unresolved contact Citizens Advice for guidance: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/changed-your-mind/cancelling-a-service-youve-arranged/. For energy disputes use Ofgem guidance and the Energy Ombudsman. For card payments consider Section 75 or a chargeback through your card issuer.

Return keys and property checkout

Arrange a final inspection date with Places for People and return keys on the agreed date. Keep a record of the inspection and any check out report.

Final bill and refunds

Request a final statement showing rent, service charges and any refunds due. For energy contracts, the contract ends either when you stop occupying the address with at least 2 working days' notice or when another supplier starts, and you may be due a refund for any overpayment.

Personal data and re-activation

Ask for confirmation of account closure and any data retention period. If you want to re-apply for a Places for People tenancy in future you will need to follow the standard application routes for new lets.

For steps on moving out see the official moving page: https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/help-support/your-tenancy/moving-out/

Use this checklist to ensure a clean cancellation and minimise costs.

• Confirm you are the named tenant on the tenancy agreement before submitting notice.
• Give at least 4 weeks written notice that starts on a Monday and ends on a Sunday.
• If emailing, use the registered tenancy email address when contacting [email protected].
• Keep copies of all emails, the Notice to Quit and proof of postage for letters.
• Arrange a final inspection and request a written check out report.
• Return keys on the agreed date and get a receipt or written confirmation.
• Request a final statement for rent, service charges and any refund due.
• If cancelling an energy contract, email [email protected] within 14 days for cooling-off or provide 28 days written notice for standard variable tariffs where applicable.