Help with house insurance after death

[ThisOchrePanda]

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well?

Hoping to get some advise in my situation which is.

Mum passed away 4 months ago, I was her carer for 5 years and moved into her house to give 24hr care. Mum wanted me to have some stability after she went so gave me 2 years to live in the house after, which was so sweet of her. The house has been left to 4 of us and it is already causing issues. My parents wanted a solicitor to deal with it but it ended up being all 4 of us as executors. Probate has been granted. My question is, I'm responsible for all the bills of the house whiIe I stay in it which is fine, but in November I need to get building insurance. The house has not been transferred to all 4 of our names yet. How can I get insurance as on paper the house is still in mums name but I'm an executor? Any advise would be grateful. Thanks

Sorry for your loss, call the insurance company and tell them, they will ask for a copy of the death certificate and executor bank account details, see if they have a bereavement number. What issues are you having.

Thanks MissMoneyFairy. I have already done that and the insurance company added me to the policy. It expires in November and was told by someone else that getting building insurance will be difficult as I do not technically own the house. The troubles are that everything would have been easier with a solicitor handling everything but others wanted to maximise there inheritance and do it themself and want the house sold at exactly 2 years and trying to push me out earlier so they do not incur any costs, even thought they will get a large pay out once sold. I just do not want to be rushed. I gave up work and now need to find a full time job and get myself set to be able to live after I move out. I gave up 5 years to care for mum which was a privilege but others who did nothing, now just want their money ASAP.

https://brunel-insurance.com/executor-and-probate-insurance/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22130334147&gclid=CjwKCAjw88HWBhA3EiwAo2Zd6Fn_qDFO-aLX_rTRYc-9TBJjvgKw9oeRIFKhR53oYxr3TCnyV70iqBoCUC8QAvD_BwE

If you search for probate house insurance then you will find lots of companies that offer cover. I would talk to a couple of firms as you will be living in the property so would not need an “unoccupied” policy.

Thank you both, when I looked online I was finding companies for unoccupied insurance. Will take a look at those.

Did you pay your dm rent whilst you lived there? I presume you got carers allowance? What did you do with your own house after you moved in? Will you be paying rent to your siblings whilst you live there?
There should be no issue with getting insurance, you don’t need to be an owner, just live there.

Hi Soontobe, no mum didn't want me to pay rent but I paid half of the house hold bills.I was getting carers allowance as pretty much gave up work to care for her. I was renting so left to move in. Mum wrote in her will to I don't need to pay others rent for upto 2 years after she is gone but I of course have to pay all bills for the house. Thanks, I was told that to get building insurance, I had to be the owner. While I technically I own 1/4 once it's sold.

I am sorry your siblings are being so horrible at such a sad time.

Hold tight: your Mum recognised what you did for her and it is absolutely right that you stay in the house and re-establish yourself.

Thanks OffTheMap 🙂

Hello. You should not be paying for the building insurance. That is a cost normally borne by the estate. So it would be paid from your mum’s/executor accounts until it is sold. You only need to pay for contents insurance for your possessions.

I was told that to get building insurance, I had to be the owner. While I technically I own 1/4 once it's sold.

As the owner is still the estate of mum, you would get building insurance as her executor charged to the estate until the house is sold and ownership transferred to the buyers.

Hi AmberTigerEyes, I was not aware of that. I guess if a solicitor had been dealing with all this then it would be easier. I just assumed that all bills meant the buildings insurance. TBH, I'm worried about bringing it u with the others that the cost should come out of the estate rather than me paying it. Things are not good between us at the moment. Food for thought. Thanks

Who is primary executor? Usually there is one primary and the others are backup in case the primary is unable or unwilling.

It's all four of us on paper but one person has done the probate.

It might be wise to get opinion from 3rd party. I had help from Cruse when i was struggling with delays in probate due to a coroner inquest holding up the death certificate. They got me legal support. They may have someone who can advise you more officially than a mumsnet poster
https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-support/

So sorry for your loss

A bit off topic, but I just wanted to say that when it's sold, if the house is worth more than the probate value Capital Gains tax is due.
As it's your primary residence you won't have to pay Capital Gains tax when the property is sold, so if your siblings are being horrible, make sure no one tries to give you your share of the proceeds with something deducted towards "tax".

[Sorry can't work out how to remove quote]

Surely if probate has been granted the 'estate' no longer exists and op and siblings are the owners.

No, probate merely proves the will and authorises the executor(s) to dispose of the estate.

I suppose what I mean us once the will is proved monies, goods property distributed the estate no longer pays for stuff as it no longer exists. I think the op is at this point I may be wrong.

Thanks for everyone's help. I think I wil arrange to see a solicitor to run it all by them. I just want everything done properly. I will pay what is required of me. I was happy to split the cost for a solicitor to deal with it all but others wouldn't. Thanks alot everyone

Most brokers who offer insurance for unoccupied properties will also be able to get probate insurance for one that is occupied - the latter is usually much easier to find as the risks are lower than for an empty house.

That was not my experience. Probate being granted is the authorisation to proceed with the paying of debts, the distribution of assets, sale of house etc. For my dad’s estate it still took three years to do it all. The estate exists until you are done as executor and have filed the final estate tax return. I did have a solicitor on retainer to give me advice as I went along.