Sell Your Inherited Property Fast
Inherited property from a loved one, but don’t want to let it out and manage tenants? Sell it for cash and enjoy your future.
Sell Your Inherited House Fast With Certainty
Selling an inherited property can be a complex and emotionally challenging process. At Property Saviour, we understand the difficulties involved and are committed to providing a smooth and respectful transaction. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get through this process:
When selling an inherited property after probate, we understand that this can be a stressful and emotional time.
Property Saviour specialise in buying all types of inherited properties for cash, whatever the condition.
We will buy any property, including houses, flats, bungalows, commercial properties, properties with short leases, squatter-occupied properties and even empty homes.
There is no need to worry if bungalows are harder to sell, as we will buy in any condition.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Emotional Journey
Selling an inherited property often involves dealing with grief, guilt, stress, and relief. It’s essential to acknowledge these emotions and seek support when needed. Here are some tips to cope with these feelings:
- Grief: Allow yourself to express your feelings and consider keeping personal items to honour the memory of your loved one.
- Guilt: Remember that selling the property is a practical decision based on your circumstances, and it does not mean you are disrespecting your loved one.
- Stress: Plan ahead, organize tasks, and seek professional help to alleviate stress. Taking care of your physical and mental health is also crucial during this time.
- Relief: Acknowledge the positive aspects of selling the property and celebrate your achievement.
Preparing Your Inherited Property for Sale
Preparing an inherited property for sale involves several steps:
- Decluttering and Cleaning: Remove personal items and clutter to make the space look larger and more inviting. A clean, tidy home can leave a lasting impression.
- Minor Repairs and Renovations: Address any minor repairs that could deter buyers. This might include fixing leaky taps, patching up holes in the walls, or replacing broken tiles. Consider giving the property a fresh coat of paint in neutral colours to make it more appealing.
- Staging the Property: Arrange furniture and decor to highlight the property’s best features. This can help buyers envision themselves living in the space. Ensure that rooms are well-lit and use mirrors to create a sense of space. Adding some plants or fresh flowers can also make the home feel more welcoming.
- Kerb Appeal: Ensure the garden is tidy, the lawn is mowed, and any pathways are clean. Consider adding some potted plants or flowers to enhance the kerb appeal. A well-maintained exterior can create a positive first impression.
When selling an inherited property after probate, we understand that this can be a stressful and emotional time. Property Saviour specialise in buying all types of inherited properties for cash, whatever the condition.
We will buy any property, including houses, flats, bungalows, commercial properties, properties with short leases, squatter-occupied properties and even empty homes.
There is no need to worry if bungalows are harder to sell, as we will buy in any condition.
Can I sell a property I have inherited?
You can sell an inherited property but can’t complete the sale until you have a Grant of Probate or a Letter of Administration.
Inheriting a house from your parents often means that the home is paid off, but this isn’t always the case. If you have inherited a house with a mortgage, you must keep up with the mortgage payments.
You can agree to sell the property in its current condition to us — no need to spend thousands on removal costs.
Here are some of the benefits of working with us:
- Sell inherited property within two weeks. Have cash in your bank account via your solicitors.
- No fees or deductions. We'll pay £1,500 towards your legal fees too.
- Cash offer means you can relax with no delays, endless viewings or hassle.
- House needs work? No worries. We'll even offer you a free house clearance if you need it.
Sell with certainty & speed
Why sellers like you trust us?
- We never instruct a fault finding surveyor unlike our competitors.
- The price agreed is the price you'll receive. We never drop the price just before the Exchange of Contracts.
- We don't insist that you use 'our recommended solicitors'. Use your own trusted solicitors.
Inheritance Situations
Inheritance can come in various forms, including:
- Inheriting from Parents or Grandparents: If you have inherited a house from your parents, you may be uncertain about how to proceed. Consider the costs of repair work, renovation, and upkeep.
- Inheriting with Siblings: If you have inherited a house with siblings, you will need to agree on the sale before the property can be sold.
- Inheriting from a Spouse, Partner, or Civil Partner: If you have inherited a house from your spouse, partner, or civil partner, you may need to apply for probate to deal with their debts and personal affairs.
How long do I have to sell an inherited house?
If an Executor is seen to be dragging out the sale of an inherited property, it could mean rising probate bills, including holding costs of property & legal costs. In this scenario, the beneficiaries can sue the Executor, and in one recent case, an Executor has been jailed.
Process of Selling an Inherited House
This is the process for selling any probate property in England & Wales:
1. Check the Will
The initial step to selling a property you inherited is to find the Will.
A Will is a legal document that outlines how a person wants their assets, including property, money, and possessions (collectively known as their “estate”), to be distributed after they pass away. This document is essential to determine who has the legal right to inherit the property.
Finding a will can be more complicated than expected. If you don’t find the will among your loved one’s personal effects, a good next step is to check with their solicitor, accountant, or bank/building society.
The will also specifies who is in charge of managing the estate and ensuring that it is passed on to the people named in the will. These individuals are called “Executors,” sometimes referred to as “PRs” or “personal representatives.”
What do you do if there is no Will?
When a person dies without a will, it’s known as dying “intestate.” Their estate is then distributed according to specific “intestacy rules.”
Only certain relatives, such as spouses or civil partners and some close family members, are eligible to inherit from an intestate estate.
These intestacy rules also come into play if a person’s will is deemed invalid.
If you are in this situation, you can check whether you are eligible to inherit from your loved one’s estate by using the government resource on intestacy at gov.uk.
2. Apply for a Grant of Probate
You can skip this section if the assets from your loved one’s will were jointly owned. Property owned as joint tenants, as well as bank accounts and life insurance policies held in joint names, will automatically transfer to the surviving owner under the right of survivorship.
The surviving co-owner must provide a death certificate to officially transfer the assets into their name alone, rather than applying for probate.
There’s no need to apply for probate if the estate is small, typically meaning it includes less than £5,000 in the bank and no property.
A Grant of Probate is a legal document that allows the Executor of the estate to act on the Will.
You can apply for probate by yourself and save thousands of pounds in fees.
Who can apply for probate?
Eligibility for applying for probate is determined as follows:
- If there is a Will, the executors named in the will are eligible to apply.
- If there is no Will, the nearest living relative is eligible to apply.
How long does the probate application process take?
After submitting your forms, you should receive the grant of probate or letters of administration within 16 weeks.
The process may take longer if you apply by post or if additional information is needed.
Once you have received the grant of probate or letters of administration, you can begin managing the estate.
3. Pay Inheritance Tax
You will have to pay Inheritance Tax when a person’s estate is worth more than £325,000 when they pass away.
What is Inheritance Tax?
Inheritance Tax is levied on the estate of a deceased person, which includes their property, money, and possessions. This tax is applied only to the portion of the estate that surpasses the Inheritance Tax threshold.
Here is an example of how the Inheritance Tax works:
John, a widower, passed away leaving an estate valued at £500,000. This includes his home worth £300,000, savings of £150,000, and other possessions valued at £50,000.
The current Inheritance Tax threshold (nil-rate band) in the UK is £325,000. Since John’s estate exceeds this amount, Inheritance Tax of 40% will be applied to the portion above £325,000.[1][2][3]
The calculation would be:
- Estate Value: £500,000
- Nil-Rate Band: £325,000
- Taxable Amount: £500,000 – £325,000 = £175,000
- Inheritance Tax Due: £175,000 x 40% = £70,000
Therefore, John’s beneficiaries would need to pay £70,000 in Inheritance Tax from his £500,000 estate.
The first £325,000 is exempt, and the 40% tax rate is only applied to the remaining £175,000 that exceeds the threshold.
If John had left his entire estate to his spouse (assuming they were UK residents), no Inheritance Tax would be due, as transfers between spouses are exempt. The full £325,000 nil-rate band would then be available when the surviving spouse passes away.
What is the Inheritance Tax threshold?
The standard rate for Inheritance Tax is 40%. However, if you bequeath 10% or more of the “net value” of your estate to a charity in your will, the Inheritance Tax rate is reduced to 36%.
Below, we have detailed the different rates and thresholds for your reference:
| Value of estate* | Value of estate if RNRB available* | Inheritance Tax rate |
|---|---|---|
| £325,000 or less | £500,000 or less | 0% |
| Above £325,000 | Above £500,000 | 40% |
If the net value of your estate is above £500,000 and you donate 10% or more of that value to charity through your will. | If your estate’s net value exceeds £500,000 and you bequeath 10% or more of it to charity in your will. | 36% |
How do I pay Inheritance Tax?
If you anticipate that Inheritance Tax will be payable, you should:
- Obtain realistic valuations for the property and any assets valued above £1,500.
- Fill out form IHT400.
- Pay the Inheritance Tax.
Once you have accurate valuations for the estate, you must download and complete form IHT400. You will need to send the Inheritance Tax forms to:
Inheritance Tax
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1HT
If you need any help completing the form, you can:
- Read the guidance on how to complete form IHT400
- Call HMRC’s Inheritance Tax helpline on 0300 123 1072
The last step is to pay the Inheritance Tax. You can find out how to pay your Inheritance Tax bill here.
Top tip: Make sure to obtain a payment reference number at least three weeks prior to making any tax payments.
You have the option to pay Inheritance Tax in yearly instalments for certain assets, such as property, which may take longer to sell.
Be aware that choosing this payment method could incur interest charges. You can calculate the exact amount of interest using HMRC’s convenient online interest calculator.
Remember to check the appropriate box on form IHT400 if you decide to pay in instalments.
When do I have to pay Inheritance Tax?
If the estate is liable for Inheritance Tax, you are required to begin making tax payments by the end of the sixth month following the death of your loved one.
What if the estate valuation is incomplete? You are permitted to make payments even before the valuation is fully completed.
Additionally, you must submit all necessary Inheritance Tax forms to HM Revenue and Customs within 12 months after the death of your loved one.
4. Preparing the property for sale
The best action to take when preparing your property for viewing is to tidy up! A clean and organized space allows potential buyers to envision their own furniture and lifestyle in the home instead of being distracted by clutter.
Tidying is cost-effective and usually quick— a quick vacuum can make a huge difference. Plus, you can always ask friends to help out, especially if they owe you a favour!
Is it advisable to decorate before selling a property you inherited?
Interior design preferences vary widely – you might love a feature wall or prefer a Scandinavian minimalist style. Ultimately, you can’t satisfy everyone, and thus, redecorating your property might not attract additional buyers. It might simply result in wasting both time and money.
This holds particularly true if you plan to sell the property at auction. If your inherited property could attract investors seeking a fixer-upper, presenting it in a slightly rundown state could be beneficial. After all, investors often look for properties they can enhance and increase in value.
5. Is property insured at all?
Find out whether the property has building insurance. You will need to purchase specific empty or unoccupied property insurance cover.
6. Inform the mortgage lender
If the property has a mortage, you find out the name of the lender from the ‘Title Register’ of the property if there is one. This service costs £7 from the Land Registry’s official website.
7. Contact utility providers
Contact the Water, Gas, Electricity and Council Tax to inform them to put the bills on hold.
8. Consider if you wish to keep or sell the property
Many people feel that letting the property will cause extra stress and unnecessary attachment to it.
If memories of the past are likely to be painful, you will consider selling your inherited property rather than renting it.
As an Executor I found the process of selling a probate property complicated ... The process was relatively simple and Property Saviour covered my legal fees too.
What happens when you sell an inherited house?
The legal transfer of property takes place via solicitors for a consideration sum.
The seller’s solicitor then uses these funds to pay the mortgage and estate bills. The balance is sent to the beneficiaries.
The buyer becomes responsible for insurance, upkeep and bills relating to the property.
Costs of Inheriting a Property
Inheriting a property can come with various costs, including:
- Council Tax: Council tax is payable on empty properties and can be as much as 200% of the normal rate.
- Empty Property Insurance: Properties that are left vacant can end up with damp, pests, or even anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and squatting. Comprehensive building insurance is essential.
- Mortgages, Equity Release Plans, Loans & Credit Cards: If the deceased left unpaid credit cards or unsecured loans, they don’t need to be paid back. You will need to inform the lenders and discuss payment options for any outstanding mortgages or loans.
- Maintenance: Maintenance is an essential part of owning a property. This can range from mowing the lawn to addressing major repairs.
Inheriting a house from your parents
If you have inherited a house from your parents, and you’ve been left a property in their Will, you may be a little uncertain – scared, even – about how to proceed.
Owning a house you’ve suddenly inherited can be a bit of a shock. You could find yourself drowning in bills, and the new responsibilities all add up quickly.
- Does it need a lot of costly repair work or renovation?
- Is it structurally unsound?
- If it’s outside your local area, could you travel there to manage it?
- Would you want to move to live there?
- Have you got the financial means for the necessary upkeep, council tax and insurance?
- Does it hold painful memories?
- Would it be best to sell it?
Inheriting a house with siblings
- Let the house and split the rental income
- Live in the house together
- Sell the house and divide the proceeds between you
- One sibling buys the other one out
If you have inherited a house with siblings, you may wish to watch this video to help you make an informed choice.
Inheriting a house from a spouse, partner or civil partner
Married couples and civil partners
Losing your husband, wife or civil partner is undoubtedly a life-changing experience. So many emotions, so much paperwork and so many things to attend to.
Inhering their house, or their part of the house, could mean you can live out your future in financial comfort.
Spouse died without a Will
You can only truly inherit property under the rules of intestacy (known as “dying intestate”) if you were married or had a legal civil partner. You’ll still need to apply for probate to get legal permission to deal with your husband, wife or partner’s debts and personal affairs.
Once the estate has been valued – usually by a specialist probate solicitor – you can work out whether you can cover any remaining debts with your savings or income.
Often, selling the property will be the only option to release you from the obligation, but we can make this quick and painless to help you avoid possible repossession.
Can I force a sibling to sell an inherited house?
No. All beneficiaries must agree to the sale before the inherited property can be sold. If there are joint Executors, then both must agree.
Can I Sell a Property I Have Inherited?
You can sell an inherited property, but you can’t complete the sale until you have a Grant of Probate or a Letter of Administration.
Empty property insurance
Properties that are left vacant can end up with damp, pests or even anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and squatting.
Therefore, it is essential to buy comprehensive building insurance.
If the property is going to remain unoccupied for a long term, you need to inform the insurer. The majority of insurers will require you to switch off the water stopcock, electricity and gas to ensure safety.
Regular property visits should be carried out to check the condition and security of the building. We recommend taking photos of each visit as evidence for your records.
Mortgages, Equity Release Plans, Loans & Credit Cards
If the deceased left unpaid credit cards or unsecured loans, they don’t need to be paid back. You will have to inform the lenders.
When inheriting a property, it is not always the case that all mortgages and loans will have already been paid off.
If a property is left with a mortgage or loan outstanding, then you’ll need to contact lenders as soon as possible and explain the circumstances. Depending on the lender, they may ask you to continue making payments, or they may offer a payment holiday.
This gives you some time to make decisions without the extra burden of loan payments.
Maintenance
Maintenance is an essential part of owning a property. This can range widely, from mowing the lawn and pruning hedges to fixing a leak.
To plan and prioritise the necessary repairs, we suggest you visit the property and create a comprehensive list. You may even be able to ask a neighbour to provide access to a handyman.
Travelling for regular viewing
Never underestimate the amount of time and effort that may be required to manage an inherited property. If it is close to you, this may not be as much of an issue; however, if it is far away, you should consider the cost of travel and the time needed to visit regularly.
Weekly viewing inspections are a requirement for properties that have been empty for more than 3 months.
Sam helped me out on the sale of my grandma's house. It had been empty for 3 years... These guys stepped in and everything was plain-sailing from there.
Inheriting a house while on benefits
You must inform the relevant authorities, such as the Department of Work and Pensions, who administer your benefits.
Whether you get PIP (Personal Independence Payment), ESA (Employment Support Allowance) or Universal Credit – they have specialist advisors who will help you navigate what to do next. You’ll need to tell them you have a ‘change in circumstances’ and give them the new address.
Inheriting a house with a mortgage
When you inherit a house with a mortgage, since the deceased’s debts still have to be paid, you may find that there is not enough left after the settlement of the estate to pay the balance outstanding on the mortgage.
Did the deceased have life insurance?
Sometimes, the life insurance policy of the deceased will cover part or all of the mortgage debt. But if this option isn’t available, you must pay the monthly mortgage payments yourself – or risk repossession.
Will you struggle to afford the repayments?
Perhaps you’re not currently employed full-time or self-employed with variable income?
Maybe you’re sick, disabled or on benefits? Or you already have your own mortgage and a family to support, so you can’t find the extra monthly payments from your household budget.
Would you be better off by selling up?
An inherited property can often be a burden, many sellers feel that selling the property for cash is simply a less stressful option. According to ONS Wealth and Asset Survey, you aren’t alone.
Free of the burden, you can then use the proceeds from the sale to buy a property of your choice or treat yourself to a car, holiday or home improvements.
How to avoid paying Capital Gains Tax on inherited property in UK?
There are two ways to avoid paying Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on an inherited property in the UK:
Make the inherited property your principal residence.
If you inherit a property and live in it as your main residence, you will not have to pay CGT when selling it. This is because you will be able to claim Private Residence Relief.
To qualify for Private Residence Relief, you must have lived in the property as your main residence for at least two of the last five years. If you have not lived in the property for two out of the last five years, you may still be able to claim Private Residence Relief if you can show that you genuinely intend to live in the property as your main residence.
Sell the property immediately upon inheriting it.
If you sell the property immediately on inheriting it, you may not have to pay CGT on any profit you make from the sale provided that property hasn’t ‘gained in value’. This is because the gain will be considered a ‘disposal by reason of death’ and exempt from CGT.
However, you should note that if you sell the property immediately, you cannot claim Private Residence Relief if you subsequently decide to live in the property as your main residence.
Here are some additional tips for avoiding CGT on an inherited property:
- Ensure that you understand the definition of ‘main residence’ for CGT purposes.
- Keep good records of your time spent living on the property.
- Consider selling the property immediately if you are not sure whether you will be able to claim Private Residence Relief.
How to sell inherited property FAST?
If you’ve just suffered the loss of a loved one, perhaps after a long illness or stay in residential care, you’re unlikely to be in the right zone emotionally to cope with various methods of sale available to you, including:
- Auctioning your inherited home
- Estate agents
- Cash house buyers.
Auctioning your inherited home
There are several considerations when it comes to auctioning your inherited property, including:
- You will need to allow 4 weeks of marketing prior to the auction and then another 4 weeks to wait for the sale to complete if you are successful in selling.
- Not all types of properties are suitable for auction.
- You’d have to put in a low guide price to ‘generate interest’; however, you could end up giving away your property.
- Not all property auctions are suitable – for example, some auctioneers specialise in selling commercial property on behalf of banks, administrators and councils.
- There are upfront fees to pay which are non-refundable, such as solicitors’ fees for a legal pack, search fees and auction entry fees.
- There’s no guarantee that your property will even sell.
- Buyer can back out of the sale, leaving you with the dilemma of instructing a litigation solicitor at £300/per hour plus VAT.
- In the above scenario, the auctioneer will deduct his commission and ask you to re-enter the property into the next auction!
In the so-called Modern Method of Auction, sellers are told it is a free sale because the buyer will pay their fees. The buyer ends up paying £9,600 in ‘buyers’ premium’, which the auctioneer split up with their introducing agent 50:50.
Naturally, the buyer may feel he/she overpaid for the property or cannot raise a mortgage and, therefore, walk away! The auctioneer will bank this fee, leaving you high and dry.
Even if you get lucky to sell the property, the buyer will have paid up to £10,000 LESS when bidding and you are worse off – in a ‘free auction’.
We don’t believe it is fair that you take all the risk, and the auctioneer gets paid first.
You may want to start a new relationship and clear bad memories of the past by selling your old house. Or perhaps you find yourself in deep financial distress, bailiffs hounding you, multiple CCJs or threats of repossession.
Estate Agents
Estate agents can offer you an opportunity to sell your inherited home on the open market. These are considerations that can hinder a quick sale:
- Buyers may not be able to get a mortgage especially if your property is in poor condition.
- You could spend thousands on house clearance (we offer this for free).
- Precious time is wasted as estate agents tend to over-value your home to win your business.
- Their only strategy to ‘sell your home’ is to reduce the price again and again.
- Estate agents can bring in phantom buyers the moment you serve them with notice.
Cash House Buyers
- A quick hassle free sale, usually within 10 days or at a timeframe that suits you.
- Sell in any condition, and we’ll do the free house clearance.
- £1,500 towards your legal fees.
- Yes, you can use your trusted family solicitor.
Free house clearance: our gift to you
When a family member dies suddenly or they have suffered long-term ill health, they may have accumulated a lot of possessions that the next-of-kin no longer wants, nor have space for.
Older people may tend to hoard ‘collections’ of treasured memories. However, out-of-date items and unhygienic waste can pile up. Have you been wondering how to cope with all the clutter before you sell up?
When selling via an estate agent, this is all the seller’s responsibility to deal with – and it can be extremely upsetting.
At Property Saviour, we understand these circumstances can be incredibly painful for the loved ones left behind.
We offer you a free house clearance service with any house sale.
Should you require this, please ask. Get in touch to see how we can help you.
Sell with certainty & speed
Healing from bereavement
Depending on the circumstances, some sellers decide to sell up and move on to help themselves heal from the trauma of bereavement. If your loved one died in the house, or you were a long-term carer for them, we can help you release cash from their estate.
You won’t need to move until you’re ready; we’ll work with you to find a date to exchange contracts so you won’t end up sofa-surfing in between.
Here’s why sellers trust us:
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
