Lodger deceased

[TheNinjaWife]

Asking for a friend, she had a lodger. She is a homeowner and was renting a room to a lodger in her family home.
Her lodger passed away recently and she is now at a loss of what to do next.
He didn’t seem to have any family or friends and the only next of kin contact she has has not answered her messages or calls.
She needs to know how to deal with his belongings. She has not come across a will.
There isn’t really somewhere to send a tort notice? If that is even applicable.
She has spoken to the bereavement team at the hospital, but they say the council will eventually deal with it. She assumes he will have a public health funeral.
Thanks for any info. She has contacted his employer and tried to do some Facebook stalking but all comes up blank.

How sad for him he seem to have no one

assume work would have next of kin or doctors - maybe a different number

seem weird they didn’t reply

did she call it rather than text

Tricky for her. I’d box up his possessions and stick them somewhere ( under stairs cupboard or something) if she needs to relet the room. Then I’d send a message saying happy to arrange a collection time over the next few weeks. Then I’d leave it for a good while, just in case, and dispose of at a charity shop.

Horrible situation. Who is executer of your lodgers Will? Guess it is solicitors if no relatives. Can they advise you on how to proceed?

The next-of-kin probably doesn't want to respond to any contact in case they are expected to settle any unpaid bills and sort out the funeral/paperwork etc. They could have been estranged.

Maybe your friend could discuss things with the bereavement team at the hospital, and give them the next-of-kin & employer details.

Op says no will has been found...

I think all your friend can do is send a message fo next of kin to state that items need to be collected by X date. If there is no response dispose of the items as appropriate. She should keen in contact with the council and make clear she isn't a relative and the lodger has no known relatives or friends.

Years ago solicitors would post notices in newspapers local to where a person lived worked or had come from originally, as well as in the national newspapers. I don't know what they do nowadays.

Could I suggest you contact the local authority to ask who would deal with the funeral. There is usually a designated officer who would deal with arranging a funeral if there are no next of kin or means to pay. They can do more digging than you can to find out finances, any relatives etc. When I was working as a housing officer for a local authority, I had an elderly tenant who died and had to have a funeral paid for by the l/a. No relatives at all, poor man so a couple of us went so someone who knew him was with him. IYSWIM.
Sorry meant to say your friend could contact the l/a not you.

Thank you for reply. She did send message and left voicemail. Doctors is a good idea.
Although he had no family my friend and partner did care for him and visited him in hospital.

Did she get any references before he moved in?

I would have thought that no next of kin, the hospital would contact the Police for them to try and find a relative. Did the person’s employer not have next of kin details.

Thanks for all the replies. My friend is not heartless but will need to let out the room and doesn’t have much storage space, as he has quite a lot of belongings.
we don’t think he has any assets. He didn’t have a vehicle for example and was in a bit of debt.
my friend asked me for advice as I have recently been an executor so have a bit of background.
We can’t find a will or any info re solicitors etc. He was originally from Scotland and we are down south of England.

Contact the Council bereavement team they should take it

Any paperwork like bank accounts

where did he live before

how long was he a tenant - did she get any references when she let the room

I think best bet is his work. He went there daily I assume - may have work friends or boss know more

No Will has been found!

The local council (local authority) has the powers to do all this, as the deceased is on course for a welfare burial. Normally that service is part of the wider department of environmental protection, which liaises with the cemetery service.

The deceased’s belongings technically are the property of the council, if he will be having a welfare burial. The council is required to mitigate its losses ie expenses. Sad but true, unfortunately.

It’s a very difficult process, but there will be a council officer who is a professional in this area, and who will speak to your friend about arrangements. She must NOT agree to paying or to be responsible for any part of the funeral or burial, if she doesn’t want to pay for it. The service and burial will be very basic.

This is so sad. It’s a big burden on your friend though, as it sounds so complicated.

Take anything of no value (clothes) to charity shop. Anything of value (even if sentimental) into a box an ask police / employers / hospital. If no reply within 2-3 months I’d bin the box also.

Thank you for all the replies. I have passed these on. To answer some question, the lodger was a contract worker and only started at a new location around October last year. My friend does have bank statements, his wallet with bank cards, mobile phone etc.
He did seem quite organised re paperwork. It appears he had no pension, due to it lapsing because of lack of payment or similar?
My friend did get a reference for the lodger but that was from his previous landlady in a multi let dwelling.
The lodger didn’t have children, and seemed estranged from other family members.
The lodgers belongings are now boxed up for the time being.
The next of kin that his employers gave her are not getting back to her. She will try to contact his doctors and go back to the bereavement team.