Death & Rent Due

[clint1974]

My late uncle died and therefore the housing benefit he recieved ceased. He left no will. My mother has taken over proceedings but not in any legal way and has recieved a letter from the local housing association for the last 2 weeks rent upto when the property has to be vacated. She doesn't intend to pay and he left very little money, not even enough to cover the funeral arrangements so what would you suggest?

[sillygirl1]

Send them a copy of the death certificate and the solicitors details (if any) and ask them to claim from the estate... there is very little they can do here now.

 

Some of these organisations are very tardy at dealing with 'deceased' estates.

[clint1974]

They have already had a copy of the death certificate. There isn't a solicitor as he had nothing but the clothes on his back! Should i just direct them to the DSS as they paid his rent?

[ErikaPNP]

No, the DSS won't help because ultimately he was responsible for the rent - although the LA may have paid it. Though if he was due housing benefit up until that period then they can make a payment. (It's the council you need to contact in regard to housing benefit)

 

Your mum should write a letter advising them that the estate was so little that it did not even cover the funeral expenses, therefore she is unable to assist them.

 

When someone dies, leaving any outstanding bills, rent, other debt etc, there is a strict order of priority in which the debts must be paid. The first to be paid are the funeral and testamentary expenses, followed by mortgage or other property secured loan, then HMRC debts, then DWP debts, then any unpaid pension contributions/wages.

 

If after paying some or all of the debts in that order, there is no money left, the debt(s) cannot be pursued any other way.