Clearing a property after a death

The short answer

Contents form part of the estate, so nothing should be disposed of before the executor has established the position and any items of value have been identified or valued. In practice a clearance runs in stages: paperwork and valuables first, then items for family, then donation, then disposal. Keeping a simple written record of what left the house protects the executor.

What the work involves

Securing documents and valuables, arranging a contents valuation where the estate requires it, distributing items to beneficiaries, then donating and disposing of the remainder through licensed routes.

Rules and responsibilities in Scotland

Executors have duties to the estate and its beneficiaries, including in relation to contents. Confirmation may be needed before certain steps, and insurance treats the property as unoccupied.

What commonly goes wrong

Skipping straight to a full clearance before paperwork has been recovered, and disposing of items that beneficiaries had an interest in.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• A house clearance firm charges by volume and access; part-clearances after family have taken items cost less.
• A contents valuation is a modest cost where the estate needs one.
• Storage of items pending distribution is an avoidable cost if the stages are planned.

What to do, in order

1. 1Secure documents, keys, jewellery and anything obviously valuable first.
2. 2Speak to the executry solicitor before disposing of anything.
3. 3Give family a defined window to identify items.
4. 4Donate what charities will take; dispose of the rest through a licensed carrier.
5. 5Keep a written record of what was removed and where it went.

Local detail for the Lothians

• Edinburgh tenement clearances need stair protection and often a permit for a van outside in controlled parking zones.
• Older Edinburgh homes frequently hold items with genuine second-hand value — furniture, books, prints — that specialists will collect.
• Executry properties often exceed the unoccupancy period on the existing insurance while confirmation is obtained.

When you need a professional

The executry solicitor should confirm what can be disposed of and when; a valuer where the estate needs contents valued.

Common questions

Can a family clear a house before confirmation?

Practical steps such as securing the property and recovering documents are normal, but the executry solicitor should confirm the position before contents are disposed of.

What is the best order to clear in?

Paperwork and valuables, family items, donations, then disposal — with a written record at each stage.

Related pages

• Hoarded property clearance

  Clearing a heavily filled property safely, including biohazard and structural considerations.

• Insuring an empty property

  Why standard cover lapses when a property is unoccupied, and what insurers require instead.

• Furniture and bulky waste

  Getting sofas, beds, white goods and mattresses out of a property legally and cheaply.