Notification of death FAQ's
How do I notify you? Log onto MySandwell and notify us a tenant has passed away.
What is 'Tell Us Once'? When registering a death with the registry office the informant will be given the option of completing a 'Tell Us Once' which means we can tell other government departments about somebody's death on their behalf.
Who can legally terminate a tenancy? A person who has been named as the executor in the deceased's will or has been granted probate.
Will proof be required? Yes, the representative will be required to provide proof of identification and either evidence of: A will - A legal document naming the executor(s) of the estate Grant of probate - Is the legal right to deal with someone's property, money and possessions (their 'estate') when they die.
What happens if there is no legal representative? If we cannot determine a legal representative, then a notice to quit (NTQ) will be served at the property, a copy of this notice will also be served on the Public Trustee. The Public Trustee will administer the estate of the deceased and therefore take on the legal right to end the tenancy.
Who clears the property? The deceased's representative will be required to empty the property before returning the keys to us. If this isn't possible we will either arrange disposal or storage of the items.
When should the keys be returned? If applicable, the keys should be returned as soon the property has been emptied so that no unnecessary rent is charged.
What happens if is a joint tenancy? Following the receipt of the 'Tell Us Once' or Death Certificate the tenancy will automatically pass to the surviving tenant.
What happens if it is a sole tenancy but there are occupants living at the address who want to remain? Following the receipt of the 'Tell Us Once' or Death Certificate the tenancy automatically passes to the husband, wife or civil partner of the tenant by way of succession, if a succession has not already taken place.
Where there is no husband, wife or civil partner, and there has been no previous succession another member of the tenant's family may request to succeed the tenancy if they can prove they have lived there for the last 12 months. These family members include partners, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Step-relations and half-relations are included.
A request for succession can be made by logging onto MySandwell and completing a request for tenancy succession. If a succession has already taken place an officer will contact the remaining occupant(s) to discuss their options.