What happens if your landlord dies
Your tenancy does not end if your landlord dies.
Nobody can force you to leave straight away.
If there is another joint owner, that person is your landlord.
Who deals with the property
One of your landlord's relatives is usually responsible for dealing with the property and money.
This person is called the 'personal representative'.
They act as your landlord while they sort out who inherits the property.
To find out who the personal representative is, you could:
Check the Land Registry on GOV.UK to find out who owns your home.
It can take time for records to be updated.
When someone inherits the property
The person who inherits the property becomes your new landlord.
Anyone who inherits the property or becomes your new landlord must give you their name and address within 2 months.
Find out who to speak to
You can:
ask your letting agent
write to your old landlord's address asking for contact details
Video: What happens if your landlord dies
Video transcript
It can be hard to know what to do and who to pay rent to if your landlord dies.
Here are the four most important things to know.
1. Your rights stay the same
Your tenancy continues with the same conditions. You do not have to sign a new tenancy agreement unless you want to.
2. You cannot be forced to leave just because your landlord has died
Your new landlord must follow the legal eviction process. Get legal advice if anybody pressures you to leave.
3. You still have to pay rent
If you know who's managing your tenancy, you can pay rent to them.
If you're not sure, check with your letting agent or your landlord's family.
Keep the money to one side until you know who to pay.
4. Your deposit should stay protected
It should be in a deposit scheme. This new landlord is responsible for making sure this happens.
If your landlord's died and you're still not sure about your rights, get legal advice.
Shelter adviser Laura explains four key things to know if your landlord dies.
[Video length: 1:06]
Your rights stay the same
You do not have to sign a new tenancy agreement unless you want to.
The terms of your tenancy agreement stay the same. For example, how much rent you pay.
Who to pay rent to
You still have to pay rent even if it's not clear who to pay it to.
If you know who the personal representative is, pay rent to them.
If your landlord died without a will, nobody can take rent for the tenancy until a personal representative is found.
If you do not know who to pay rent to, keep the money safe and do not spend it. You could keep it in a separate account.
Tell the letting agent or the landlord's relatives that you have the rent. You can pay it to the personal representative or new landlord when you know who it is.
This means you do not end up with rent arrears.
Rent increases
Your rent can only be increased after your landlord's death by:
a joint landlord if there is one
someone who inherits the property
a personal representative
For most private tenants, your new landlord or the person managing the tenancy can only raise the rent with a section 13 notice.
Rent increases are different for regulated or protected tenancies.
Repairs
The person who manages your tenancy must make sure repairs are done.
If there is no will, nobody has to do repairs until the relatives have sorted out a personal representative to deal with the landlord's estate.
You should still let someone know if urgent repairs are needed.
If you are pressured to leave
You have the right to live in your home without people harassing you.
Use our template letter if your landlord's relatives pressure you to leave.
[Use the subject: My tenancy]
I would firstly like to say I am very sorry for your loss.
I have been a tenant at [address] since [date].
On [date] you contacted me asking me to leave the property.
Legally, a tenancy does not end if the landlord dies. I plan to stay in the property. My tenancy continues with the same conditions.
Please could you give me contact details for the person legally dealing with the estate as a personal representative.
You can also send the letter as an email attachment or by post:
Word template: Tenancy following death of landlord (docx 16kb)
OpenDocument template: Tenancy following death of landlord (odt 8kb)
Help to deal with harassment
You can get help to deal with harassment if you're pressured to leave.
Can you be evicted?
You must be given an eviction notice.
Only a court can order you to leave. A landlord or a personal representative needs to ask a court for an order to evict you.
Get early legal advice if you get a notice.
Your eviction rights
You are probably an assured tenant if you rent privately.
Assured tenants have stronger rights than other private renters. You can only be evicted for a reason.
Lodgers have fewer rights and can be evicted without a court order.
Tenancy deposits
Your deposit should stay protected in a scheme when your landlord dies.
Your new landlord must update the deposit scheme with their details if they decide to manage the property themselves.
If they use an agent, the agent can update the scheme.
A new landlord or agent might choose a different deposit protection scheme but your deposit must stay protected.
If your new landlord breaks the tenancy deposit rules, you can claim compensation.
If your benefits stop
If your universal credit or housing benefit stops because your landlord dies, a new tenancy agreement can sometimes help to get your claim restarted.
Get benefits advice if you have a problem with your claim.
Homeless help if you must leave
You can ask for help from your council if you could be homeless in the next 8 weeks.
Contact the council if you get an eviction notice.
Do not move out if you have nowhere to go. Keep paying rent.
The council might say you are intentionally homeless if you:
leave a home that you could have stayed in
do not pay rent
This can mean you do not get as much help to find somewhere else to live.
Last updated: 1 May 2026
