PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Tenant has died but have no keys to property

Options
Hi All,

Bit of background my father bought my great Auntie and Uncles house of them years ago and a tenancy agreement was written up that they could live in the property for the duration of their joint lives. My Uncle dies 15 years ago but we still let me Auntie live there rent free. We stopped having regular contact with her 4 years ago as she just withdrew from everybody.

Last week my father received a council tax bill for the property stating unoccupied so I went knocked on door etc and called no answer. After lots of investigation we finaly found my great Auntie in a old peoples home - we spoke to her on the phone and she was glad we had looked for her and we said we would go visit the next day. We did visit the next day and she was actively dying not much response but nodding and then nothing she died yesterday night.

The situation now is her other family have keys to our property, they obv wish to make no contact with us. All her stuff is still in the house. I would like to make the property secure as I have no idea who has keys to the house.

I was going to get a locksmith to break in and change the locks and then leave a note on the door asking the executor to contact me (regarding the property contents) Is this the right thing to do? I have no contact detais for her other side of the family.

PS - I am dealing with this as my father has had many strokes over the past few years and is not capable - I have POA over his affairs.

Thanks
«1345

Comments

  • minnie123
    minnie123 Posts: 2,133 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    also to add she lived in the property alone and she has no children.
  • theartfullodger
    theartfullodger Posts: 15,685 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Tenancy continues in "The estate of xxx". The executors need to end it or rent continues payable, or landlord can end it through courts (except in Scotland)
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yes, just change the locks. I would have concerns about the security implications of putting a "look, this house is unoccupied" note on the door but otherwise what you suggest sounds reasonable.
  • minnie123
    minnie123 Posts: 2,133 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I know what you mean about the note it's just all her belongings are in the house.
  • minnie123
    minnie123 Posts: 2,133 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Tenancy continues in "The estate of xxx". The executors need to end it or rent continues payable, or landlord can end it through courts (except in Scotland)

    So I can't change the locks I have to go to court?
  • iammumtoone
    iammumtoone Posts: 6,377 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    Can you explain the situation to the care home leaving your contact details and ask them to pass them onto her other family so they can contact you when they are ready to clear it out.

    You really need to get into the house to make sure that everything has been left safe.
  • GobbledyGook
    GobbledyGook Posts: 2,195 Forumite
    Who have the care home been dealing with? Is there other family who are dealing with things if she doesn't have any children?
  • squinty
    squinty Posts: 573 Forumite
    minnie123 wrote: »
    So I can't change the locks I have to go to court?

    Probably no need to go to court, but you must not change the locks.

    You can serve notice on the executor, or if there is no will be serving notice on the Public Trustee. You need the right forms and there is a fee.

    See

    https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-agreements-a-guide-for-landlords/if-your-tenant-dies-without-an-executor-or-a-will
  • Thrugelmir
    Thrugelmir Posts: 89,546 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Tenancy continues in "The estate of xxx". The executors need to end it or rent continues payable, or landlord can end it through courts (except in Scotland)

    There's no rent payable. The tenancy was granted to the Uncle and Aunt for the duration of their lives.
  • Floxxie
    Floxxie Posts: 2,853 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Is this a tenancy or a licence?
    Mortgage start September 2015 £90000 MFiT #06
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 256.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.