Rent on apartment following Aunts death

kato

Hi, I would appreciate some advice from you guys.

My Aunt died on Monday, she lived alone in an extra care home for the elderly (she was 85, husband died in 1992 and no children). My sister and I have been trying to organise everything (in my aunts will she named my sister as sole beneficiary & executor).

When we called the manager of her home to inform him of her death and find out how long we had to clear the apartment he told us we had to give four weeks written notice of termination. While she was alive, she paid £92 rent every month, the remainder being paid by the social services. My aunt only had a small amount of savings (just enough to cover her funeral).

Will my sister be liable for the remaining four weeks rent on the apartment?

TIA

Benny24

Deepest simpathy for the loss of your Aunt. Did your Aunt have the £92 put aside for the next four weeks? Any costs for your Aunt should come out of her estate. Did you ask the home manager if you had to pay the £92?

Sorry I am unable to give much more help...and there more questions than answers...someone with more knowledge should be along soon to assist.

Also have you taken a look through the "what to do when someone dies" thread.....there may some advice on there that may help.

Good Luck

floss2

Contact Social Services ASAP, as your Aunt's subsidy may cease on her death, also there maybe some help for funeral costs if she had a low enough income for help with fees. Make sure you tell them of the 4-weeks written notice (seems a bit mean, how many people can 4-weeks notice in writing of them moving to "another place"?)

Also, check whether your Aunt had paid any money as a deposit or maybe a month's rent in advance....it maybe that only a couple of weeks are actually due.

And don't forget to stop any payments from her account - contact her bank & take a copy of death certificate in to halt any transactions from her account. And the DWP for any pension payments - form available from your local DWP office.

Did your Aunt have any insurance policies or a funeral plan? Also any thing such as HSA or union which may have a death payout.

Floss x

dianasnan

when I signed my Father's agreement with his nursing home there was definitely a four weeks notice clause. I think most homes will have this clause as it takes a while for the family to clear their relatives things and for the home to process a new resident especially if social services are involved. Sounds harsh I know but they are running a business.
As suggested by Floss2 please check with the home and social services

Errata

As there will be nothing left in Aunt's estate after the Funeral Director has been paid, the bottom line is that the Home can't have what doesn't exist.
I'm not too sure how you can give the Home 4 weeks notice, as the contract was between Auntie and the Home.
Perhaps the best way forward would be to clear the flat asap and write to the Home telling them Auntie is no longer living there.

Savvy_Sue

I know when my uncle died in a similar situation we were expected to clear his flat in two weeks, and I think that's what was expected at the Housing Association I worked for. Did you ask whether you would still be liable for the rent if the flat was emptied sooner? And is it feasible to clear it quickly?

The 'extra' you say was paid by Social Services - was this for services, or was it a top up of her rent from Housing Benefit? I am sure HB would only be payable for another two weeks, but if it was a payment for any care she received then I can't see that you'd be liable to pay that. Could be wrong, of course ...

I am sorry for your loss.