Ending a tenancy after a bereavement

To notify us of the death of a tenant, please complete our online ‘Notice of termination of tenancy’ form. You will need to provide the following information:

• Your name, address and telephone number.
• The name and address of the late tenant and the date the tenant died.
• A copy of the death certificate. A tenancy cannot be ended until we have received a copy of the death certificate.
• Your relationship to the deceased and whether you are the executor of their estate, have power of attorney or are next of kin.
• If you were a friend of the deceased we will need the details of any relatives they had as, for legal reasons, the next of kin should normally be the one to end the tenancy.
• When you hope the property will be cleared of possessions and when the keys will be returned.

We understand that family members may need time to make arrangements and to clear the property. We usually prefer four weeks’ notice to end a tenancy, starting on a Monday. However, in some situations we will accept less or more notice depending on the individual case.

Full rent is payable until the tenancy is ended and the keys are returned to us. Any outstanding rent is payable by the deceased’s estate and similarly, if any rent has been paid in advance, this will be paid out to the executor of the estate/next of kin.

If the deceased was in receipt of housing benefit for all or part of the rent, it is automatically cancelled from the date of their death, as per government regulations which apply to all
state benefits. Full rent is payable from this date onwards.

Please make sure:

• The property is left in a clean and tidy condition.
• All personal possessions, furniture and any rubbish are removed, including items from the loft and any sheds.
• Carpets and floor coverings are removed.
• You leave any instruction manuals (e.g. for central heating) in a prominent place in the property.
• The garden is cleared of personal items and left in a tidy condition.
• The bin(s) are left in an appropriate place.

If you have bulky waste for recycling or disposal you can contact your local council to find out where the nearest household recycling centre is. They may also offer a collection service for a small fee.

Please note that if we have to remove any unwanted possessions or clean the property at the end of the tenancy, we may charge for this.

We will contact you to make an appointment to meet you at the property to collect the keys and you will be given a receipt. Please do not post the keys or leave them at the property.

We hope that we have covered most of the questions often raised but if you are still unsure of something or need clarification, please do not hesitate to get in touch.