Knowledge Base

Do I need probate before a clearance?

You do not always need a grant of probate before clearing a house. You do need legal authority, and you must not dispose of anything valuable before it is valued.

  • Waste taken to licensed transfer stations
  • Careful, discreet crews
  • Itemised inventory for probate
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Authority comes first

The rule is simple. Someone with authority must approve the clearance.

  • If there is a will, the named executor has authority from the date of death.
  • If there is no will, the administrator has authority only once letters of administration are granted.

If you are an administrator, wait for the grant before removing anything of value.

What you can usually do early

Executors often start before the grant arrives. Reasonable early steps include:

  • Securing the property and changing locks if needed
  • Removing food, rubbish, and anything that will rot
  • Finding deeds, policies, certificates, and bank papers
  • Photographing rooms and contents for the record
  • Setting aside sentimental items for the family

What to wait for

Hold off on these until the valuation is done:

  • Selling furniture, jewellery, or antiques
  • Sending anything to auction
  • Giving items to charity
  • Skipping the full clearance

Once an item leaves the house, its value is hard to prove.

Valuations and Inheritance Tax

HMRC wants the open market value of the contents at the date of death. That is what the goods would sell for, not what they cost new.

Two things follow from this:

  • Value the goods while they are still in the property.
  • Use a RICS surveyor or a qualified valuer if the contents look significant.

Low-value household goods can usually be given a sensible estimate. Antiques, art, and jewellery normally need an expert.

A safe order of work

  1. Confirm who has authority.
  2. Secure the property and its papers.
  3. Get a valuation if the contents may be valuable.
  4. Agree the scope in writing with the other beneficiaries.
  5. Book the clearance and keep the paperwork.

If the property must be emptied quickly

Rented homes and care home rooms often cannot wait. In that case:

  • Photograph everything before removal.
  • Store valuables rather than sell them.
  • Tell the solicitor what was removed and when.

That keeps the estate accounts clean even when the timing is forced.

Talk to us

We survey the property, then send a written quote. No fixed price is given before we see the contents.

Call 0794 455 7700 or email info@houseandofficeclearance.co.uk.

Not sure where to start?

We'll walk the property with you, explain what happens to each category of contents, and put it in writing.

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Next step

Speak to someone who has handled probate clearance

Free, no-obligation assessment across Greater London and the M25. At Probate Clearance London, we work to your timescale and to the executor's requirements.

Learn more about probate house clearance