When someone dies
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
Your housing rights might change if someone you live with dies. Having lived in your home for a long time does not automatically give you the right to stay there.
The key issues that will affect your rights are:
- whether your home is rented or owner-occupied.
- whether you have signed or been named in any legal documents relating to the property, such as a tenancy agreement, title deeds, or a will.
- whether you have succession rights or rights under the rules of intestacy (this will depend on how you are related to the person who died and where you were living at the time of their death.
Getting help after a death
How to access support if you're struggling with legal, practical or emotional issues after someone in your household dies.
How death affects housing rights
Issues that will affect your rights if someone that you live with dies.
Finances after a death
This page looks at how your financial situation might change if someone you live with dies and what your options are.
If an owner dies
The housing rights of the rest of the household may be affected by the title deeds, the person's will and/or the rules of intestacy.
If a tenant dies
The rights of the rest of the household depend on whose name(s) the tenancy is in, the type of tenancy and how you were related to the person who died.
