Probate Queries

[CreativeAccounting]

To whom does a property belong during the probate period? Also, who maintains a property during the probate period and what happens with utility bills and council tax? Thank you.

The executors are responsible for the property as they need to look after the estate’s assets. Council tax not payable if the deceased lived alone and only becomes payable six months after the grant of probate is issued and a further extension may be possible if the house is empty ie no furniture in the property. The property still belongs to the deceased and cannot be sold without the grant. Utility bills paid as normal and property needs to be insured, but insurance company needs to know about death of owner and there may be conditions attached to the insurance eg weekly check on property if it’s empty,

Thank you. That’s very informative.

I think you need to check re council tax I believe different areas have different rules. I would have assumed the executors provide the council with proof of the deceased ie the death certificate on which they would advise on what happens re the payment. You didn’t say if the property was solely owned by the deceased

Yes, it’s solely owned. Thank you.

We got a year for not paying council tax while waiting for probate (not that it actually took that long though) water bill we had to pay quarterly gas and electric my Dad was in credit so they just took it from that!

Insurance was a bit of a bugger to find someone who would insure an empty house but the solicitor dealing with Dads estate put us in touch with a broker who sorted it all rather quickly (as I had little idea about specifics of the house they must of thought I was a right idiot)!

We did have a load of angry letters from the TV licence people and apparently no one was in when they came to visit even though I’d notified them (and they’d sent a refund 🤣)