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...

I recently sold a property with Elizabeth Cooke as the property consultant and the service has been nothing short of exceptional. Great feedback during the listing phase to keep interest in the property, through to weekly updates and A+ chasing of the chain to keep everything on track in the sale phase. Highly recommend, you're in safe hands here. Stephen 03/02/2026

Alice has been so helpful and friendly with my rental application - no question is ever too much! Karen 03/02/2026

Karen Marijewko was excellent and provided us with weekly updates during a difficult sale due to changes in deeds. Thanks for all your help Michael 03/02/2026

Sarah and the team at Normanton has been great with our sale, kept us up to date with proceedings both up and down the chain. Thanks for all the effort Sarah. Lodewikus 03/02/2026

Leah was absolutely amazing throughout my whole house buying process. From start to finish she chased things up and updated me, always had good communication and answered any questions/queries I had promptly. Can’t fault the service at all from Leah, thank you again! Would definitely recommend. Elise 03/02/2026

Liz constantly provided an exceptional service. We had good communication with prompt follow up with all our queries related to the house we were buying. Liz was friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. Thank you Liz. AM 03/02/2026

Quick sale (did we price too low?) but everything went through within weeks. Mandy kept us updated throughout the process. We are now living the life by the coast. Happy retirement to us. Edward 03/02/2026

Alison has been fantastic throughout our home buying journey. As first time buyers, we had plenty of questions, and she supported us every step of the way. She chased things up promptly, kept us updated without us ever needing to ask, and made the whole process feel much less stressful. We’d definitely recommend Richard Kendall and especially Alison to anyone looking for a reliable and supportive estate agent. Hayden 03/02/2026

I cannot recommend Richard Kendall enough, I would urge anyone who is looking to sell their home to use this estate agents. We had previously used 2 estate agents prior to using Richard Kendall, I wish we had gone with Kendalls from the start. Friendly, approachable, will help advise you in all matters. Other estate agents need to benchmark themselves against Richard Kendalls. Jo 03/02/2026

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