Sell an Inherited or Probate Property

Whether you’re an executor, an administrator or one of several beneficiaries, there’s a lot to manage: paperwork, family conversations, a house full of memories, and bills that keep arriving. We can’t make that easier emotionally, but we can take the property sale off the list of things to worry about.

How selling an inherited property works in England & Wales

Grant of Probate, or Letters of Administration

Before a property can be sold, the person handling the estate needs legal authority. If there’s a will, the executors apply for a Grant of Probate. If there isn’t, the next of kin apply for Letters of Administration. Both are issued by the Probate Registry, part of HM Courts & Tribunals Service.

You can agree a sale before the grant

You can value the property, choose a buyer and begin legal preparation before the grant arrives. The sale can’t complete until the grant has been issued.

Jointly owned properties

If the property was owned jointly as “joint tenants”, it may pass automatically to the surviving owner without probate. If it was owned as “tenants in common”, the deceased’s share goes through the estate. The estate’s solicitor will confirm which applies.

What we can do

Work at the estate’s pace. We can agree a price now and wait for the grant, so there’s no need to rush the family.
Buy with contents in place. Keep what matters to you, and leave the rest.
Any condition. Dated kitchens, damp, or a property that’s been empty for months are all factored into the offer, not reasons to walk away.
A clear, evidenced valuation that executors can share with beneficiaries and the solicitor.
One point of contact, working with your solicitor, not around them.

Is a direct sale right for the estate?

Executors have a duty to act in the beneficiaries’ interests, and that usually means getting a fair price. If the property would sell well on the open market and nobody is in a hurry, an estate agent may achieve more, and we’ll say so. A direct sale tends to suit estates where the property needs work, the beneficiaries want a quick and clean result, or ongoing costs are mounting.

Common questions

Can we start before the Grant of Probate is issued?

Yes. We can value the property, agree a price and route, and begin the legal preparation before the grant arrives. The sale can only complete once the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration has been issued, and we’ll wait for it.

How long does probate take?

It varies. Straightforward applications have often taken a couple of months, and more complex estates or backlogs at the Probate Registry can take longer. Your solicitor, or the gov.uk probate service, can give you the current picture.

The beneficiaries don’t agree on selling — can you help?

Often, yes. A clear valuation with independent evidence, and a firm written offer, can help beneficiaries reach a decision. We deal with the executors or administrators and their solicitor. We never contact beneficiaries behind their backs, and we never apply pressure.

Do we need to clear the house first?

No. We can buy with the contents in place. Take whatever you want to keep, in your own time, and tell us what’s staying.

The property has been empty for months — is that a problem?

Not for us. Empty properties can pick up issues like damp, or trigger insurance conditions and council tax charges, and we factor in their condition as it is. Check the property’s insurance: many policies have conditions for unoccupied homes.

Will selling affect inheritance tax or capital gains tax?

It can, depending on the estate and the sale price compared with the probate value. That’s a question for the estate’s solicitor or an accountant, not for us. We’ll give you a clear, evidenced figure that you can share with them.

Selling a loved one’s home, at a pace that works for the family.