Benefactors interfering in sale of property

[PersephoneParlormaid]

Can benefactors (not being executors, just benefactors) interfere in the sale of a property? If the answer is no, how can I as executor stop it? Thanks

Your responsibility as executor is to comply with the terms of the will. That's it. There is no need to consult with or update your cousin. (It sounds as if the less she knows the better.)

Given her attitude, when you're ready to distribute the estate it would be a good idea to give (or send) her a copy of the completion statement showing the costs of sale and net proceeds.

I’ve done what I thought was right, keeping her in the loop and asking her opinion. Seems like that was the wrong way to do it, and it’s given her some authority in her mind. I’ll not be telling her from now on, I just hope the estate agent will keep the house on.

You will probably do this anyway but probably best to be honest ish with the EA and explain that a beneficiary has misunderstood how much authority they have in the circumstances (!) and that you did not expect or anticipate this, that you have now dealt with this and don't expect any more problems. I am betting that even if that particular person hasn't experienced this before, people in their company will have and won't be surprised. I hope that you won't have any more trouble.

When you talk to your agent, see about making your account password protected so that cousin can’t ring up and say to the receptionist “oh, I can’t quite remember, would you confirm for me …”

I’ve already told them to deal with me only.

Good but do set up a password

In your case, setting up a password would be better than finding out you should have set up a password.

Do you think that the cousin could/would phone and pretend to be you or (if cousin is male and you are female) get someone else to do it? That may sound OTT but nothing surprises me any more!! if the EA will agree to a password or pin code, it migh be a line of defence?

I think you are doing the right thing to no longer include her, just tell her once the sale is going through.

I might send my cousin one more message stating clearly the house is valued at approximately £x, you do not wish to own the property so if she wants to buy your share she’s welcome to do so but she’s got to tell you in the next couple of weeks or you’ll sell it to a stranger.

Be clear again she can’t just insist the house is kept for her benefit if she’s not able to afford to buy out your share.

As the executor, you have the legal responsibility for the estate. You do have the right to change the locks and I think you'd be wise to.