Land with National Grid overhead lines

nom_de_plume

Hopefully the land hasn't got any maintenance or other covenants attached to it as it could be worth even less than nothing!


https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/investors-landbanking-schemes-who-were-17376061

Malthusian

Skiddaw1 wrote: »

I don't think there's any choice really- even if the land is worthless it is still part of the estate (and whilst unlikely, there's always the possibility that at some point the land will attract a value). I think it has to be transferred to the beneficiaries (and as New World Man says, once it is transferred it's no longer the executor's problem).

I would investigate whether one of the nearby landowners would agree to take it for free.

I would also inform the six beneficiaries that it's worthless, and suggest they may want to consider using a Deed of Variation to give it up. If any demur because they think this bit of wasteland might become valuable, then the other beneficiaries can let them have it. Either way you avoid saddling the beneficiaries with worthless land unless they actually want it, and make the distribution a bit easier. If all six want rid then either you or they need to find a willing recipient.

If the land formed part of a separate clause in the Will to other legacies, the beneficiaries could disclaim it, and if everyone eligible to inherit the land disclaimed it in turn, it would eventually pass to the Crown. That is an extremely long shot however as BIL would have to bequeath the land in a separate clause to the rest of the estate. You can't disclaim part of a legacy so if the land wasn't in a separate clause, the heirs can't disclaim it without disclaiming the rest of their inheritance.

Ideally some way should be found of getting rid of it in case the land is not just worthless but a liability, as nom de plume says. However it is the beneficiaries' problem rather than your problem; you can satisfy your responsibility by transferring the land to the beneficiaries.

nom_de_plume

I suspect OP's husband may actually be one of the 6 brothers / beneficiaries.

GeordieGirl48

Non de Plume - correct, he is.

xylophone

Would one of the other plot holders accept it as a gift?

Would a charity accept it?

GeordieGirl48

Doubt it, as there appears to be no value to it. Thank you.