Gaining access to sheltered housing scheme flat

Happy_Daddy

My wife's Aunt has just died and unfortunately the hospital have mislaid/lost the keys to her flat. My wife has tried to contact the warden of the flats today but could not get hold of them. So, she rang the management company to explain that she needs access to the flat to find the various bits of paper her Aunt prepared in advance of her death. The Management Company say they cannot let her in as there is no document authorising her access. My wife's brother is an Executor, does he have any rights to enter the property? Any ideas as to how we should proceed? Many thanks

Yorkshireman99

Happy_Daddy wrote: »

My wife's Aunt has just died and unfortunately the hospital have mislaid/lost the keys to her flat. My wife has tried to contact the warden of the flats today but could not get hold of them. So, she rang the management company to explain that she needs access to the flat to find the various bits of paper her Aunt prepared in advance of her death. The Management Company say they cannot let her in as there is no document authorising her access. My wife's brother is an Executor, does he have any rights to enter the property? Any ideas as to how we should proceed? Many thanks

Who is the executor? They need to go further up the Managemenbt organisation to get some common sense.

SevenOfNine

Who has the death certificate? That should gain you access surely.

Happy_Daddy

My wife and her brother won't get the death certificate until Weds afternoon - to further complicate matters we all live at least 4hrs away from the Aunt. They are going down Weds/Thurs to try and get as many of the formalities done as possible, but know that a lot of the information they need to help them achieve this is in the flat in the 'what to do when I'm gone' folder.

Savvy_Sue

Could be worth keep trying the warden, especially if they are known to the warden from previous visits. Warden may want to come in with them (which would not be unreasonable). Wardens aren't always available that often ...

Jamiesmum

As you live so far away it would be worth contacting whoever saw the aunt frequently. Assuming they would have met the warden multiple times they will take it by face value.

They wouldn't really be doing their job if they let complete strangers in, I guess.

Was it council run or private owned? Could you get the HA to come?

No spare keys?

Mojisola

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Warden may want to come in with them (which would not be unreasonable).

Jamiesmum wrote: »

They wouldn't really be doing their job if they let complete strangers in, I guess.

I get very cross with companies who act as if a customer dying is a totally novel experience that has never happened before and that they have never discussed what would happen in these circumstances nor put systems in place!

As the above posts say - all the company has to do is arrange for someone with a key to meet a representative at the flat, check identity, sign indemnity paperwork if necessary and be supervised while a search for paperwork is made.

The company may well insist on seeing the death certificate and may only allow the informant access to the flat.

Happy_Daddy

Thankyyou all for reading and responding, We had good news today. The Warden was available today and is aware of local keyholders that she can get keys from for my wife to gain access. What a relief!