Lodger died with almost no assets

Strangie

My friend's brother has just died. He's a lodger in someone else's house. He didn't have much and I think his landlady has already picked over his stuff (she took his booze and cigarettes while he was still lying dead in his bed.) From what we've read, his rent might still be due. My question is this. How is she supposed to get this rent money? As far as we know, his only asset remaining in his room is his TV. Should his sister sell any remaining assets and pay the landlady? Or just let the landlady have anything remaining of value in the room?

marcia_

Strangie said:

My friend's brother has just died. He's a lodger in someone else's house. He didn't have much and I think his landlady has already picked over his stuff (she took his booze and cigarettes while he was still lying dead in his bed.) From what we've read, his rent might still be due. My question is this. How is she supposed to get this rent money? As far as we know, his only asset remaining in his room is his TV. Should his sister sell any remaining assets and pay the landlady? Or just let the landlady have anything remaining of value in the room?

 I would remove his stuff and tell the landlord he has no money to cover the owed rent. 

sammyjammy

What @marcia_ says

If what you say is true its disrepectful and disgusting.

Grumpy_chap

Collect his stuff.
The debt for rent cannot be paid as he is insolvent.
OR - don't get involved as being Executor or Administrator for an insolvent Estate can be challenging.

caprikid1

" (she took his booze and cigarettes while he was still lying dead in his bed.) "

I'd go as far as to say collect his belongings and it is the estate that owes the money, but be warned you may be reported for theft.

la531983

caprikid1 said:

" (she took his booze and cigarettes while he was still lying dead in his bed.) "

I'd go as far as to say collect his belongings and it is the estate that owes the money, but be warned you may be reported for theft.

Clearing out the possessions of a deceased person is theft? Let the landlord report it then, it wouldn't get anywhere.

Keep_pedalling

Funeral costs would come before any outstanding debts so his LL is not going to get anything. 

Grumpy_chap

caprikid1 said:

" (she took his booze and cigarettes while he was still lying dead in his bed.) "

I'd go as far as to say collect his belongings and it is the estate that owes the money, but be warned you may be reported for theft.

I understood it was being claimed that the LL took the Lodger's cigarettes and alcohol.  Not the sister of the deceased.

I'd let that go as it is frankly impossible to know how much alcohol and cigarettes the deceased may have had and whether any was a shared store with the LL.

saajan_12

Technically the assets belong to the estate and can be sold to pay its obligations starting with funeral costs. However if the main asset is a second hand TV then it'll barely cover funeral costs with nothing left for rent arrears. So it doesn't really make a difference whether the family pay for the funeral and keep the assets or go through the process of selling, administrating the estate etc. 

Are there any bank accounts with money or insurance policies? 

Silvertabby

Or any unclaimed pensions ?

Section62

Strangie said:

My friend's brother has just died. He's a lodger in someone else's house. He didn't have much and I think his landlady has already picked over his stuff (she took his booze and cigarettes while he was still lying dead in his bed.)...

A reason for collecting his stuff is in case he had anything of value stashed away (e.g. money in the pockets of clothes in the wardrobe).  But if the landlady has got there first and done a thorough job then odds are anything of value has already gone.