In the difficult days after a loved one has died, the following information will help guide you on what to do in relation to their tenancy.
The first thing to do if they lived alone is end the tenancy on their behalf – this will prevent arrears building up against their estate. If there are family member’s resident, it may be possible for them to succeed the tenancy. Check eligibility for succeeding the tenancy.
Give Notice
Please write to us to let us know that you’d like to report the death of a tenant or complete the online form at the foot of the page.
We need four weeks notice, so the tenancy will end four weeks from the first Monday after we receive these details. This will give you time to clear and clean the property before you hand back the keys.
Make sure the rent is up to date
Rent will be keep charged weekly during the four week notice period. Any arrears or money owed will need to be cleared before the tenancy ends. If any charges remain outstanding, they will be charged to the estate.
Returning the keys
Please make sure you lock all the doors and windows when you leave the property. All of the keys to the property should be handed into the Bury Housing Services Office Town Hall, Knowsley Street, Bury BL9 0SW, on or before 12 noon on the day the tenancy ends. Please also consider that rent will continue to be charged to the estate until these items are returned. There may also be additional charges if the keys are not returned.
Carelink and Aids and Adaptations
If there is a Carelink in the property, please contact Carelink on 0161 253 6222 to let them know that the tenancy is ending and arrange to send the equipment back to them.
To find out if any equipment fitted in the property has been supplied by Adult Care Services, please contact them online or 0161 253 6858. They will arrange for this equipment to be removed.
Gas and Electric
Please leave the gas and electric cards or keys in the meters as they will not work anywhere else and make sure you do not leave any money owed on the meters.
Who to else you might need to contact
- Council Tax and Housing Benefit at Bury Council
- DWP
- Adult Services
- Utility companies
- Personal or Occupational pension scheme providers
- Insurance companies
- Banks and building societies
- Employer
- GP, dentist, optician and anyone else providing medical care
any charities, organisations or magazine subscriptions the deceased person made regular payments to.
You can register the name and address of the person who has died with the Bereavement Register. This removes their details from mailing lists and stops most advertising mail. You can either register over the phone by calling 0800 082 1230 (the 24-hour automated registration line) or online on their website.
Advice and Support
www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/death-and-wills/what-to-do-after-a-death/