This information is about what happens when a council tenant who was living alone dies.
Who can end the tenancy and rent payments
The tenancy does not end when the tenant dies. The only people who can end it are:
- an executor - the person named in the will, who will deal with the possessions of the person who has died
- an administrator - a person who's applied to the Probate Registry and obtained letters of administration (or the grant of probate)
- the Royal Borough of Greenwich
A next of kin, who is not the executor or administrator, cannot end the tenancy.
What we will do
If there is no executor or administrator, by law we must serve a 'notice to quit' on the public trustee. Tenancies are transferred temporarily to this public office if a tenant dies without a will, or with a will but without an executor.
The tenancy will end 4 weeks after this is served. Rent will be charged during this time. We may also contact the Financial Protection and Appointee team, if they have had previous involvement.
Any charges will be made against the estate once the tenancy is ended.
Four weeks after the account is closed, we'll send a closing statement of the rent account to the executor, administrator or next of kin.
If the person who has died was receiving Housing Benefit, the payment stops at the date of death. This means it will not cover any charges after this date.
Access to the property and clearance
If the executor, administrator or any other individual already has keys, we will not provide access to the property. However, if no-one has the keys, we'll only give keys to the executor or administrator.
Once a disclaimer form is signed and keys returned, we'll dispose of anything not required. We reserve the right to charge this back to the estate.
Contact us about a tenant who's died
You can contact Tenancy Services or visit the Woolwich Centre or Eltham Centre.
Telephone: 020 8921 6371