Ending the tenancy
When a tenant dies, the tenancy does not automatically end. Only specific individuals can formally end the tenancy:
- an executor - this is someone named in a will as the person who will deal with everything owned by the deceased;
- an administrator - this is someone who has applied to the Probate Registry and obtained Letters of Administration (sometimes called the Grant of Probate).
A Next of Kin who is not the executor or administrator cannot end the tenancy.
Ipswich Borough Council requires four weeks' notice to end a tenancy, starting on a Monday and ending on a Sunday. The executor or administrator must complete a Notice to Quit, available for download below, and submit the following documents:
Required documents
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Death Certificate
The original death certificate or an interim confirmation of death (if the Coroner is involved). We cannot accept the notice without this.
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Proof of Authority
A copy of the relevant section of the will, proving the executor’s role, or copies of court documents appointing the administrator.
If there is no executor or administrator, Ipswich Borough Council will serve Notice on the Public Trustee's Office. The tenancy will end four weeks after the Notice is served.
Rent and charges
During the four-week notice period, rent will continue to be charged. If the deceased was receiving housing benefit, payments will cease on the date of death, leaving a gap in coverage. Executors, administrators, or family members are not responsible for covering this rent. Instead, rent and any other charges will be deducted from the deceased's estate after the tenancy ends.
Clearing the property
Before you return the keys it is important that the property including the garden has been cleared of all belongings, carpets, laminate flooring and all other fixtures and fittings such as curtain rails, shelves, light fittings etc. If there are items left in the property after the tenancy end date, the Council may have to recharge the deceased’s estate for the cost of their removal.
If you have large items that can't be picked up with regular rubbish collections, we offer a bulky waste collection service.
Please note the button below opens in a new window.
Alternatively, if your items can be reused, contact the Ipswich Furniture Project at 01473 404004.