Here you can find the following information on tenancy issues
What to do when a tenant dies
Losing a loved one can be a very traumatic time and unforutnately housing issues can be very complex following the death of a tenant.
What happens to the tenancy depends upon whether the tenant lived alone and whether they had a joint tenancy or if the tenancy was in their own (sole) name.
You can notify the Housing Service in a number of ways, by telephone, letter or e mail. We will need details of the next of kin and who is managing the affairs of the tenant. We will ask you for a copy of the death certificate and we will ask you to complete a tenancy termination form which can be posted to you or is available to download (below).
There is a 4 week notice period following the death and the notice period commences on the Monday after the death. Housing Benefit stops on the death of the tenant and outstanding rent from this date has to be paid from the tenants estate.
We can shorten the notice period to the Monday following the date the keys are returned in some instances, provided the property has been cleared.
Before returning the keys you should also inform the following
Post office (to have the mail redirected)
Housing Benefits (If applicable)
Council Tax
Assisted Garden Scheme 01727 819256 (if the tenant was receiving the Assisted Garden Maintenance Service)
You should also take reading of gas, electricity and water meters and secure the property before returning the keys.
If the tenant did not live alone then the person who was living at the property with them may have succession rights in accordance with the Housing Act 1985. The person must be able to prove that they have lived at the property for the previous 12 months and be a close family member (spouse, partner, civil partner or some other family members).
If the person succeeding the tenant is not a joint tenant and the property is too large for their housing needs then we may require them to move to a property more suited to their housing needs.
Please see the section on succession of tenancy.
If the deceased tenant was making a Right to Buy application and someone else was also on the application please do let us know. In some circumstances the Right to Buy may be allowed to proceed.