Belongings in property.

MrsF34

Hello,

My mum passed away recently and I am her next of kin. My grandad and I have been cleaning out her flat and was planning on calling a charity to lift her furniture. My husband just had a thought that we may not be able to do that until death is registered and ownership of the flat is sorted? My mum has not left a will. Is he right about leaving the furniture as it is or am I allowed to move it?

Thanks

jackieblack

You need to establish who will inherit before you do anything.
https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

Mojisola

MrsF34 wrote: »

My mum passed away recently and I am her next of kin. My grandad and I have been cleaning out her flat and was planning on calling a charity to lift her furniture.

My husband just had a thought that we may not be able to do that until death is registered and ownership of the flat is sorted?

How recently? The death should be registered within five days (if you're in England) unless there are special circumstances.

If you haven't already, use the Tell Us Once service offered by the registrar.

Keep_pedalling

Are you are her only child?

getmore4less

Technically you should wait till someone gets a grant of administration.

In practice if all the beneficiaries are in agreement you get on with the job.

A grant is not always needed.

konark

If the flat is rented crack on, you'll be charged rent on every extra week until you empty it.

Margot123

If the contents are of very little value, and there are ongoing costs to the estate if the contents are left in situ, then I would say remove them.
If you suspect something is of monetary or sentimental value, then keep it safe in storage or at your home.

Alternatively, as you imply, the flat may have been owned by your Mum, the furniture might help as a security measure by making it look occupied, if people can look through the windows.

macman

How long ago is 'recently'? The contents would potentially need to be valued for probate/IHT purposes, so you should not be clearing anything. I can't believe you are clearing the flat before the death is registered and funeral arrangements made. Being next of kin does not mean you automatically inherit everything if she died intestate-the rules of intestacy apply.

MrsF34

There are special circumstances in that we have to wait for toxicology reports so cannot be registered until I have the results.

MrsF34

Yes I am the only child.

MrsF34

Thanks. I wasn’t for clearing the flat at all. I have struggled with just looking through her paperwork. My grandfather and his wife were the ones who insisted we got started. I asked on here for advice because I don’t want to do it. I’m not ready nor prepared to do it so I can now pass on this advice and hopefully they will now ease off with the pressure.