[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/tenant-dies-without-will-ast\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/tenant-dies-without-will-ast\/","headline":"What should I do if my tenant under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy passes away without a will?","name":"What should I do if my tenant under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy passes away without a will?","description":"What happens with the tenancy if the tenant dies? The tenancy is transferred temporarily to the Public Trustee if a tenant dies: without a will with a will but without an executor You cannot take back a property automatically even if the tenancy was due to end. You may be fined if you try to [...]","datePublished":"2020-02-18","dateModified":"2026-01-26","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/author\/coby\/#Person","name":"coby","url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/author\/coby\/","identifier":17,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/095b94eeb56f604e46bfd6673afa9194.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/095b94eeb56f604e46bfd6673afa9194.jpg","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"AlexanderJLO London Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/ajlo-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/ajlo-logo.png","width":460,"height":275}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/What-should-I-do-if-my-tenant-under-an-Assured-Shorthold-Tenancy-passes-away-without-a-will.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/What-should-I-do-if-my-tenant-under-an-Assured-Shorthold-Tenancy-passes-away-without-a-will.jpg","height":853,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/tenant-dies-without-will-ast\/","about":["Blog","Landlord and Tenant"],"wordCount":475,"articleBody":"What happens with the tenancy if the tenant dies?The tenancy is transferred temporarily to the Public Trustee if a tenant dies:without a willwith a will but without an executorYou cannot take back a property automatically even if the tenancy was due to end.You may be fined if you try to repossess a property without following the rules.How to reclaim your property in these circumstances?You must carry out the following:post or deliver a letter to the tenant\u2019s last known address saying you\u2019re giving written notice – you do not need to get proof of thissend a copy of the notice and a completed NL1 form to the Public Trusteeregister the notice with the Public TrusteeAddress the written notice to: \u201cThe Personal Representative of [full name of the tenant who died] of [last known address for the tenant who died]\u201d.NL1 application formYou will need to order a paper version of the NL1 application form to register a notice. These are available from legal stationers.You cannot use a photocopy of the form to make your application but you can make your own version of the form as long as it\u2019s laid out in the same way and includes all the relevant information.It costs \u00a340 to register the notice. Pay by cheque or postal order in UK sterling only, made payable to \u2018The Public Trustee\u2019.Send the Public Trustee a copy of the written notice, the completed application form to register the notice and your payment for the application to register to the following address:The Public TrusteePO Box 3010LondonWC2A 1AXWhat happens next?The Public Trustee will register or reject your application.You\u2019ll get a letter telling you one of the following:Your application is registered – you\u2019ll be told the date it was put in the register. Once your application is registered you are free to let out the property again.Your application is rejected, for example, because your application is incomplete – you\u2019ll be told why the Public Trustee cannot register itYou should get a letter within 15 working days of the Public Trustee getting your application and payment.You can search the Public Trustee\u2019s register if your notice is registered, for example, to check that you can legally rent the property again or sell it.For further information about Landlord and Tenant law or Wills and Probate, contact one of Alexander JLO\u2019s expert lawyers today.This blog was prepared by Alexander JLO\u2019s senior partner, Peter Johnson on the 18th February 2020 and is correct at the time of publication. With decades of experience in almost all areas of law, Peter is happy to assist with any legal issue that you have. His profile on the independent Review Solicitor website can be found Here"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"What should I do if my tenant under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy passes away without a will?","item":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/tenant-dies-without-will-ast\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]