Resident guidance: Rented tenants - Last updated 25 March 2026

Time away from your home and abandoned properties

We understand that you may need to be away from your home for many reasons - such as hospital stays, caring for others, or extended trips.

This page explains how to let us know if you plan to be away from your home for more than 28 days, and what we do if we think a property has been abandoned.

In this guidance you'll find:

How to let us know if you will be away for an extended period
How we check on properties we think may have been abandoned
What happens to your home if we can’t reach you
What we’ll ask if we make contact with you
What does Anchor do when a property has been left permanently?
How to get help or advice about being away from your home

How to let us know if you will be away for an extended period

If you plan to be away for 28 days or more, please let your location manager know or contact our Customer Experience Hub on 0800 731 2020. This helps us keep your home safe and avoid any misunderstandings about whether your home has been left permanently

How we check on properties we think may have been abandoned

If we think you may have moved out of you property, we will:

Try to contact you several times
Visit the property
Write to you at the property and any alternative address you’ve provided.

What happens to your home if we can’t reach you

We will always try all reasonable ways to reach you before taking any further action and only treat a property as abandoned when we have strong reasons to believe a resident has left permanently.

If our checks suggest you may no longer be living in the property, we will send formal letters asking you to contact us. We will continue checking for any signs you are returning.

You will not lose your home just because you are away, only if it becomes clear that you do not intend to return.

What we’ll ask if we manage to make contact with you

Once we hear from you, we will confirm whether you intend to return and offer guidance including how long absences might affect rent or benefits.

If you no longer wish to keep the home, we can help you end your tenancy properly.

What does Anchor do when a home has been left permanently?

We only take back a property when we are certain it has been permanently vacated. When this happens, we:

Visit with two staff members
Record the condition of the property
Change the locks
Leave a notice with contact details.

Any belongings left behind are handled safely in line with our policies.

Need help or advice about being away from your home?

If you’re planning time away or have questions about your tenancy, speak to your location manager or contact the Customer Experience Hub on 0800 731 2020. We’re here to help keep your home safe and secure.