Selling an inherited property

When someone passes away and leaves a property, it becomes part of their estate. Before that property can be legally sold, the estate usually needs to go through a legal process called probate. Understanding where you are in that process, and what is possible at each stage, is the first step to selling quickly once the time is right.

Probate: the one rule you cannot get around

In England and Wales, you cannot legally complete the sale of an inherited property until the grant of probate has been issued. This is the court document that gives the executor of the estate the legal authority to deal with the deceased's assets, including their property. Without it, contracts cannot be exchanged and title cannot be transferred.

The time to obtain grant of probate varies considerably. A straightforward estate with a clear will, no disputes and properly filed inheritance tax returns can move through in three to five months. More complex estates, such as those with disputed wills, multiple beneficiaries, foreign assets or significant tax to calculate, can take considerably longer. This is largely outside your control, but there are things you can do in parallel to prepare for a fast sale once probate is granted.

What you can do before probate is granted

Even before you have the legal authority to sell, there is meaningful groundwork you can lay. Getting a valuation of the property is not only useful for planning the sale, it is also required for the probate application itself. You can instruct solicitors to act on the eventual sale. You can clear the property of contents and assess its condition. And crucially, you can speak to us and get a cash offer in principle, so that the moment probate is granted, you have a buyer ready and waiting.

Many executors waste weeks after probate is issued trying to find a buyer from scratch. If you have done the groundwork beforehand, completion can follow grant of probate within a matter of weeks rather than months.

Dealing with a property that needs work

Many inherited properties have been lived in by an older person for many years and reflect the décor and maintenance of a different era. Damp, dated kitchens, aging roofs, and old wiring are extremely common in probate properties. On the open market, these issues reduce buyer interest significantly: mortgage lenders may decline to lend on a property in poor condition, and most buyers do not want the disruption of a renovation project.

A cash buyer removes this obstacle entirely. We do not need the property to be mortgageable and we do not expect it to be in perfect condition. We make our offer based on an honest assessment of what the property is worth in its current state, with no surprises later. If you are also concerned that the property needs significant repairs, that does not prevent us from buying it.

The ongoing cost of an empty property

While the estate is being administered, the inherited property is likely to be empty. Empty properties are expensive. Buildings insurance for an unoccupied property is significantly higher than standard cover. Council tax is typically still payable, often at full rate after an initial exemption period. Utilities, security, and basic maintenance add further costs. And an empty property deteriorates: small issues become bigger ones without someone living there to notice them.

The longer the property sits empty, the more it costs the estate and the more difficult it can become to sell. Acting promptly, even just to get the valuation done and a buyer lined up in principle, reduces these costs and protects the value of what the estate is trying to realise.

Multiple beneficiaries: when everyone needs to agree

If two or more people inherit a property jointly, all of them need to agree to the sale. This is usually straightforward when relationships are good and everyone wants to move quickly. When beneficiaries disagree about timing, price, or whether to sell at all, things become more complicated. Courts can be asked to intervene in extreme cases, but it rarely comes to that if there is good communication and a realistic offer on the table. We are experienced at working with multiple parties through their respective solicitors to keep things moving without conflict.