Empty house since parent died this week

angela110660

Our mother died on Thursday sadly. The house is unoccupied now but as secure as we can make it. Due to cold weather we are keeping the heating on a frost programme currently and also using timers to switch lamps on and off at various times. Question is- are we permitted to do this or do we have to close all the utility accounts down asap?
We have to let all the authorities know on Monday so just wondered. Sadly despite encouragement from us all she is intestate so we now have to go to Probate to settle everything.

Linton

You need to tell the utilities about the death. They will reassign the accounts to "The executor of mother" and if my experience is anything to go by wont actually ask for any further payment until the account is closed when the house is disposed of. So you will be able to continue heating the house.

You will also need to tell the house building insurers who will again reassign the insurance. However they will expect monthly payment from the executor, and the cost will be higher as the house is unoccupied. Keeping the house heated will probably be a requirement of the insurance.
(PS they may insist that the water/central heating be drained. This will be a hassle.)

My experience is that the utilities handle bereavement very well. They have standard procedures and specially trained staff.

Robisere

Very sorry for your loss, I remember losing my parents.

Find your mum's energy supplier account numbers, etc. If you can, take a meter reading asap. Contact the supplier and explain the problem: you have to maintain frost protection as winter is about to get worse. Certainly close the phone account if not done yet, contact the Water company and speak to them. Give both energy and water companies, the date that your mum passed. You may have to send each of them a photocopy of the Death Certificate.

Be prepared for having to pay something when you have obtained probate. Also be prepared for a lengthy wait: probate takes time and you will have some chasing around. Have a good look around for any insurances. That sounds mercenary I know, but you are the one left behind, when a Will would have made things so much easier. A good move is to ask for another Death Certificate: you may have to pay, but keep it back for photocopies.

I hope it turns out well for you, once again you have my sympathy.

Yorkshireman99

angela110660 wrote: »

Our mother died on Thursday sadly. The house is unoccupied now but as secure as we can make it. Due to cold weather we are keeping the heating on a frost programme currently and also using timers to switch lamps on and off at various times. Question is- are we permitted to do this or do we have to close all the utility accounts down asap?
We have to let all the authorities know on Monday so just wondered. Sadly despite encouragement from us all she is intestate so we now have to go to Probate to settle everything.

You also need to tell any banks she had accounts with on Monday. They will freeze these.

Linton

Another addition for insurance - if a house is unoccupied the insurance company will insist that it is inspected internally once a week. Another hassle especially if you dont live near-by. Our estate agent was prepared to do the inspection for a smallish charge which was helpful.

Yorkshireman99

angela110660 wrote: »

Our mother died on Thursday sadly. The house is unoccupied now but as secure as we can make it. Due to cold weather we are keeping the heating on a frost programme currently and also using timers to switch lamps on and off at various times. Question is- are we permitted to do this or do we have to close all the utility accounts down asap?
We have to let all the authorities know on Monday so just wondered. Sadly despite encouragement from us all she is intestate so we now have to go to Probate to settle everything.

Are you aware of the intestacy rules? The estate will have to be distributed according to them. This tells you the rules.

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

securityguy

"Are you aware of the intestacy rules? The estate will have to be distributed according to them."

It's worth also remembering that the beneficiaries under intestacy (by the sounds of it, the OP and her siblings) can, if they agree, use a deed of variation to essentially write the will they think their mother would have wanted. If there are siblings who do not want to enter into this, they can just take their share as defined by law.

Obviously, if there are family disputes this becomes harder, but the OP implies everyone is on the same page.

PasturesNew

Don't forget to check with the Council to see if there's a reduction in Council Tax. It's better to read their website and work it out for yourself, so you can use the correct wording/reason you want a reduction ... because if you just ask "do we have to pay?" they'll probably tell you "yes".

The "secret" with the authorities is that if you wish to claim a benefit, or discount, you'd better find out the exact/correct name to ask for, because their job is to trip you up, not to help you.

With our empty house I was visiting daily to collect post/check it. We kept the water/heating on because you do seem to end up in Catch 22 over insurance and wanting to maintain the heating/services.

TheGardener

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

You also need to tell any banks she had accounts with on Monday. They will freeze these.

Similar circumstance here - we found that the best policy for the first few weeks was to not tell the banks and leave the bank account alone as we needed DD's for utilities etc to continue to be paid and needed some time to find out who/what/why he was paying - charities, Breakdown cover, etc.
All the utilities were great and if you look on their websites - most have a dedicated phone number for their bereavement team. Usually leave you alone for 6 months and then they will start asking nicely.
Council tax - councils all have their own rules but ours gave us 6mths free.
House insurance were the absolute worst - wanted to double the premium as there was no one there.
We did all our own probate but the estate was less than the inheritance tax threshold (which I would have needed help with I think) and to be fair - it was pretty simple. The .Gov website tells you all you need to know and the solicitors wanted over £3K to deal with a very simple estate.
If you can manage it - do it yourself. We were all done and dusted with papers of administration, release of bank accounts and deeds for the house released, pensions etc sorted in just over 8 weeks.
Top Tips:
1)get several copies of the death certificate and the probate papers as you will need multiple copies.
2)Use the 'Tell us once' .gov service for driving licences/passports etc.
3) get your mums neighbours to help keep and eye on the house. It doesn't take long for people to realise someone has passed and the house is empty.

Yorkshireman99

TheGardener wrote: »

Similar circumstance here - we found that the best policy for the first few weeks was to not tell the banks and leave the bank account alone as we needed DD's for utilities etc to continue to be paid and needed some time to find out who/what/why he was paying - charities, Breakdown cover, etc.
All the utilities were great and if you look on their websites - most have a dedicated phone number for their bereavement team. Usually leave you alone for 6 months and then they will start asking nicely.
Council tax - councils all have their own rules but ours gave us 6mths free.
House insurance were the absolute worst - wanted to double the premium as there was no one there.
We did all our own probate but the estate was less than the inheritance tax threshold (which I would have needed help with I think) and to be fair - it was pretty simple. The .Gov website tells you all you need to know and the solicitors wanted over £3K to deal with a very simple estate.
If you can manage it - do it yourself. We were all done and dusted with papers of administration, release of bank accounts and deeds for the house released, pensions etc sorted in just over 8 weeks.
Top Tips:
1)get several copies of the death certificate and the probate papers as you will need multiple copies.
2)Use the 'Tell us once' .gov service for driving licences/passports etc.
3) get your mums neighbours to help keep and eye on the house. It doesn't take long for people to realise someone has passed and the house is empty.

It is quite wrong not to tell the bank imediately. It will stop unnecessary payments by DD or standing order being made that may unrevoverable.

Savvy_Sue

Sorry for your loss.

Linton wrote: »

So you will be able to continue heating the house.

You will also need to tell the house building insurers who will again reassign the insurance. However they will expect monthly payment from the executor, and the cost will be higher as the house is unoccupied. Keeping the house heated will probably be a requirement of the insurance.
(PS they may insist that the water/central heating be drained. This will be a hassle.)

Linton wrote: »

Another addition for insurance - if a house is unoccupied the insurance company will insist that it is inspected internally once a week. Another hassle especially if you dont live near-by. Our estate agent was prepared to do the inspection for a smallish charge which was helpful.

After Mum's death, the insurance offered a choice between draining the central heating and turning off the utilities, and keeping the place warm but making a weekly inspection. We chose the latter: I can't imagine how hard it would have been to market a freezing cold house over the winter.

Mum's gardener was a great help in both keeping the outside looking presentable and cared for, and in doing a weekly internal inspection.