Inheriting a property? - Richard Kendall Estate Agents

Inheriting a property? Here’s everything you need to know.

Inheriting property can be both a blessing and a challenge. Whether it's a cherished family home or an unexpected asset, navigating the legal, financial, and emotional aspects requires careful consideration. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you understand the essentials when inheriting property.

The probate process

Before inheriting a property, the deceased’s estate typically goes through probate. This legal process confirms the validity of the will and appoints an executor to distribute assets, including property.

Inheritance tax

In the UK, inheritance tax (IHT) may apply to estates above a certain threshold. It's crucial to determine if the property is subject to IHT and understand any reliefs or exemptions that may apply.

Title deeds and ownership

Upon inheritance, you’ll need to transfer the property’s ownership. This involves updating the title deeds with the Land Registry, which ensures legal ownership rights.

Mortgage and financial responsibilities

If the property has an outstanding mortgage, you’ll need to address repayment options. Seek advice on handling financial obligations related to the property.

Wills and intestacy

Whether there’s a valid will or not affects how the property is inherited. Understanding intestacy rules is crucial if there’s no will.

Executor’s role

Executors have legal responsibilities to administer the estate, including the property. They ensure debts are settled, taxes paid, and assets distributed as per the will.

Property valuation

Obtaining a professional valuation helps assess the property's market worth. This informs decisions on selling, renting, or retaining the property.

Family discussions

Inherited property can stir emotions and family dynamics. Open communication and clarity on intentions can help mitigate potential conflicts.

Maintenance and insurance

Property upkeep and insurance are ongoing responsibilities. Ensure the property is adequately maintained and insured to protect its value.

Selling or renting

Decide whether to sell, rent out, or occupy the property. Each option has financial and personal implications, so consider your long-term goals.

Seek professional advice

Navigating inherited property involves legal, financial, and personal considerations. Consulting with legal and financial professionals ensures you make informed decisions tailored to your circumstances.

For more advice, contact our expert team today

What Our Customers Say...

Fantastic service Very productive in a market that is difficult and stressful. Helpful and always keeping you up to date with great advice in the process. John 09/06/2025

Wonderful, friendly service from Francesca and the team. Thankyou for making the whole experience from viewing to signing up and getting the keys a 5 Star service. Susan 09/06/2025

Both Donna & Joanne did a wonderful job for me & kept me informed every step of the way. Thank you both. Marilyn 09/06/2025

Roger Hall visited us and gave us a valuation in October, after reviewing other estate agents we agreed to go ahead with Richard Kendall a week later. In the space of just 15 days we had an offer we had accepted on our property. We were buying a new build property with a long lead time (6 months), and Richard Kendall were fantastic in ensuring our prospective buyers (and anyone else in the chain) knew of the situation. I can't fault the speed or communication of the team, particularly Karen Dawson who helped us at every step. Andrew 09/06/2025

Excellent service and very professional. Mandy kept me informed and was very helpful throughout my sale with regular updates , always very happy and honest and it was a pleasure to have Mandy as my negotiator . I will definitely recommend Richard Kendall. David 09/06/2025

We’ve just sold a property with Richard Kendall and couldn’t be happier with the excellent service received from Lucy and the team. Their professionalism and communication throughout was spot on and made the whole process much less stressful. We were also really impressed with their marketing of the property which resulted in lots of viewings, offers and the sale price we wanted. We actually moved to Richard Kendall from another local agent and couldn’t believe the difference in all aspects of the process. Brilliant from start to finish, can’t recommend Lucy and the team highly enough. Lydia 09/06/2025

The entire process of selling my parents' property during a difficult time was handled with exemplary care and professionalism. Amanda and the team at the Wakefield office were fantastic throughout. Their attention to detail, clear communication, and supportive approach made a challenging situation much easier to navigate. Special thanks again to Amanda, Andy and Donna for their invaluable input and assistance. Their expertise and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend this team for anyone seeking a smooth and supportive property sale experience. Ben 09/06/2025

We sold out flat through Richard Kendall, working mainly with Karen Marijewko and we could not have had a better experience than we did. Karen kept in touch through the full process without any prompting required, she was so supportive and helpful! We really couldn’t have asked for more from the agency in general but especially from Karen. The process wasn’t the smoothest but Karen helped move it along and always kept us in mind to get us the best experience, we are so grateful for everything Karen has done for us! Sarah & Warren 09/06/2025

The support that Liz from the Wakefield office, gave at this time is unmeasurable. Many thanks for going above and beyond and endeavouring to get our sale over the line. Ricahrd 09/06/2025

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