Just a quick note from the landlord side of things. In my area anyway when you shut off your utilities the utility company doesn’t actually come out and turn them off. The chargres stack up and it is the landlords responsibility to give them someone to put on a new account.
Well yes and no - for me. Apart from my own principle of no unsettled debts etc, there is a practical element - I am an attorney. Every time I apply for a state bar, I have to list outstanding debts. I am not sure if I will be applying to any others, but for a month’s rent, it isn’t worth it for me.
Anyway, spoke to them today. Utilities are in their name now, and we seem to be coming to at least an understanding re the whole security deposit coming back.
If they are putting the house up for sale, how does that constitute a “good faith effort to rent”? 
It doesn’t. But if I kick up a fuss there, we are getting into somewhat murky territory over what responsibility they have to rent before the end of the lease…
Maybe you could offer that in exchange for a reduction in the final month’s rent, you won’t be hanging around naked in the apartment you are legally renting while they attempt to show it. 