When someone passes away, clearing their home can be one of the most difficult jobs an executor or family member has to deal with.
There can be furniture, personal belongings, paperwork, clothing, appliances and years of possessions to sort through. On top of that, there are important legal and practical steps to consider before anything is removed from the property.
If you are arranging a probate house clearance in Kent, it is important to take your time and make sure valuable or sentimental belongings are dealt with correctly before the property is cleared.
At Bryson Rubbish Clearance, we provide professional house clearance and rubbish removal services across Kent. We work with families, executors, landlords and, where required, solicitors to help make the process as straightforward and respectful as possible.
This guide explains the main steps involved in clearing a property following a bereavement.
What Is a Probate House Clearance?
A probate house clearance is the process of clearing a property after someone has died.
The property may need to be cleared because it is being:
- Sold
- Rented out
- Returned to a landlord
- Transferred to a beneficiary
- Prepared for renovation or another purpose
The responsibility for dealing with the contents normally falls to the executor named in the will or the person legally responsible for administering the estate.
It can be particularly difficult if family members live some distance away or the property contains many years’ worth of possessions.
The important thing is not to rush into clearing everything before valuable and important belongings have been identified and dealt with.
Probate House Clearances for Solicitors and Executors in Kent
At Bryson Rubbish Clearance, we understand that probate clearances can involve more than simply removing unwanted items.
Executors and solicitors need a reliable company that will treat the property and its contents with care.
Depending on your requirements, we can:
- Provide a free, no-obligation quotation.
- Arrange a property visit or provide a quotation from photographs where suitable.
- Clear houses, flats, garages, sheds, lofts and gardens.
- Leave items behind that beneficiaries or family members wish to keep.
- Set aside paperwork, photographs and other important items found during the clearance.
- Carry out the clearance once valuable belongings have been removed or valued.
- Provide the appropriate waste documentation for the clearance.
- Work directly with solicitors or executors dealing with the estate.
- Dispose of waste through appropriate licensed waste facilities.
If you are dealing with a probate property from outside Kent, we can also discuss the practical arrangements for accessing the property and completing the clearance.
How Do You Clear a House After Someone Dies?
There is no need to feel that everything has to be done at once. The government’s guide on what to do after someone dies is a useful starting point for the wider legal steps.
Here is a practical step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Secure the Property
Once the property is empty, make sure the doors and windows are secure.
You should also establish who has keys to the property and consider arranging for the post to be redirected.
Take meter readings and contact the relevant utility companies. If the property is going to remain empty, check what needs to be done with the heating, water and other services.
Step 2: Contact the Insurer
Tell the property’s insurer that the homeowner has died and that the property is going to be unoccupied.
Insurance policies can have specific requirements for empty properties, including regular inspections or restrictions on cover.
Check with the insurer what you need to do to keep the property appropriately insured.
Step 3: Contact the Local Council
The council should be informed that the property owner has died.
Council Tax arrangements can depend on the circumstances of the estate and whether probate has been granted, so contact the relevant council for advice about the property.
Step 4: Don’t Start Throwing Things Away
This is one of the most important steps.
It can be tempting to start filling black bags or taking furniture to the tip, but valuable and sentimental belongings can easily be overlooked.
Before clearing the property, look carefully for:
- Jewellery
- Watches
- Cash
- Coins
- Antiques
- Paintings
- Collectables
- Important documents
- Photographs
- Family heirlooms
Something that looks like an ordinary household item could have considerable financial or sentimental value.
Step 5: Check the Will and Establish Who Is Dealing with the Estate
Read the will carefully and identify any specific gifts or belongings that have been left to particular people.
Keep these items separate and make a record of them.
If there is no will, the legal process can be different, so it is sensible to obtain appropriate legal advice before valuable belongings are distributed or sold.
Step 6: Search the Property for Important Paperwork
Important documents can be found in all sorts of places.
Check cupboards, drawers, filing cabinets, wardrobes, lofts, garages and other storage areas.
Look out for:
- Bank and savings documents
- Pension information
- Insurance documents
- Property documents
- Utility bills
- Previous wills
- Share certificates
- Personal correspondence
- Identification documents
- Cash and valuables
Personal paperwork should be handled carefully because it may contain sensitive information.
Step 7: Have Valuable Belongings Assessed
Before the house clearance takes place, consider whether any belongings need to be valued.
This can include:
- Jewellery
- Watches
- Antiques
- Paintings
- Coins
- Silver
- Collectables
- Specialist furniture
The value of possessions may be relevant when valuing the estate, so it is important not to dispose of potentially valuable items before they have been properly considered.
Step 8: Allow Beneficiaries and Family Members to Collect Belongings
Once belongings have been identified and dealt with, arrange for family members and beneficiaries to collect anything they are entitled to or wish to keep.
It can help to keep a written record of what has been taken and agree a final collection date.
This prevents the house clearance from being delayed indefinitely.
Step 9: Decide What Should Be Sold, Donated, Recycled or Cleared
Not everything needs to go straight into the waste stream.
Depending on its condition and value, remaining property contents may be:
- Sold
- Donated
- Reused
- Recycled
- Disposed of as waste
At Bryson Rubbish Clearance, our aim is to ensure that items are dealt with responsibly and that as much suitable material as possible is diverted from landfill.
Step 10: Identify Items Requiring Specialist Disposal
Some items require additional care and should not simply be placed in a general house clearance load.
These can include:
- Medicines
- Paint and chemicals
- Gas bottles
- Electrical equipment
- Confidential paperwork
- Potential asbestos-containing materials
- Other hazardous materials
If you are unsure whether something requires specialist disposal, seek appropriate advice before moving it.
Step 11: Choose a Licensed House Clearance Company
When choosing a probate house clearance company, don’t simply choose the cheapest quote.
Check that the company is legally able to transport and handle the waste they collect.
You should also ask what happens to the waste after it leaves the property and make sure you receive appropriate documentation for the clearance.
At Bryson Rubbish Clearance, we are registered with the Environment Agency and can provide waste documentation for our customers.
This gives executors and solicitors a clear record of the waste removal.
Step 12: Prepare the Property for Its Next Stage
Once the house clearance is complete, the property can be prepared for whatever happens next.
This could mean:
- Preparing it for sale
- Preparing it for rental
- Returning it to a landlord
- Carrying out repairs
- Arranging cleaning
- Handing the keys back
If the property is rented or belongs to a housing provider, check the required timescales for returning the property.
What Are Your Responsibilities When Arranging a House Clearance?
If you arrange for household waste to be removed, you have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure that the person or company you use is authorised to transport waste.
This is particularly important when arranging a large house clearance following a bereavement.
Before booking a company, check:
- The company’s waste carrier registration.
- What happens to the waste after collection.
- Whether you will receive appropriate waste documentation.
- Whether the company provides a proper quotation and invoice.
- Whether the company has suitable insurance and operates professionally.
Be cautious of anyone offering unusually cheap rubbish removal for cash without paperwork.
Using an unlicensed waste carrier can potentially result in your waste being fly-tipped, leaving you with a much bigger problem.
Probate House Clearance for Solicitors in Kent
Bryson Rubbish Clearance works with both private customers and professionals who need reliable house clearance services.
If you are a solicitor dealing with an estate, we can discuss the requirements of the property with you and arrange the clearance once the estate is ready.
We understand that solicitors may need clear records for their files, which is why we can provide the relevant paperwork for the waste collected.
Our team can clear the property from top to bottom, including:
- Houses
- Flats
- Lofts
- Garages
- Sheds
- Gardens
- Outbuildings
If you are dealing with a property from outside the area, speak to us about the arrangements needed to access the property and complete the clearance.
How Bryson Rubbish Clearance Can Help
Clearing someone’s home after they have died can be emotional, time-consuming and physically demanding.
At Bryson Rubbish Clearance, we aim to make the practical side of the process as straightforward as possible.
We can provide:
- Free, no-obligation quotations.
- House and probate clearance services across Kent.
- Clearance of entire properties, including lofts, garages, sheds and gardens.
- Removal of furniture and unwanted household items.
- Responsible disposal and recycling of suitable materials.
- Waste documentation for your records.
- Services for families, executors, landlords and solicitors.
- Cleaning through our sister company, Bryson Property Services, once the clearance is complete, including carpet and oven cleaning and other property cleaning services where required.
Our sister company, Bryson Property Services, can help prepare the property once the clearance has been completed, making it easier to get the property ready for sale, rental or handover.
We can provide a quotation following a property visit or, where suitable, from photographs sent to us.
Our team covers areas throughout Kent, including Sittingbourne, Faversham, the Isle of Sheppey, Maidstone, Canterbury and Medway, including Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham, Strood and Rainham, as well as surrounding areas.
If you are unsure whether we cover your area, simply get in touch and ask.
Probate House Clearance FAQs
Do I Have to Wait for Probate Before Clearing a Property?
Not necessarily. The circumstances can vary depending on whether there is a will and who has authority to administer the estate.
However, valuable and important belongings should be identified and dealt with before the property is cleared.
If you are unsure about your legal position, speak to the solicitor dealing with the estate.
Should I Value the Contents Before the House Is Cleared?
Yes, potentially valuable belongings should be identified and valued before they are removed or disposed of.
Once an item has been cleared, it may be impossible to establish what it was worth.
How Much Does a Probate House Clearance Cost in Kent?
Every property is different, so there is no fixed price for a probate house clearance.
The cost can depend on:
- The size of the property.
- The amount of furniture and waste.
- Whether there are lofts, garages or outbuildings.
- Access to the property.
- The type of waste being removed.
- The amount of labour required.
At Bryson Rubbish Clearance, we can provide a free, no-obligation quotation so you know the cost before the work begins.
How Long Does a Probate House Clearance Take?
The time required depends on the size of the property and how much needs to be removed.
A smaller property may be cleared relatively quickly, while a larger house with a full loft, garage and garden may require considerably more time.
We can discuss the property with you and give you a better idea of the likely timescale.
Do I Need to Be at the Property?
This depends on the arrangements made for the clearance.
If you are an executor who lives outside Kent, speak to us about the options available for accessing the property and arranging the clearance.
What Happens to Furniture and Items That Are Still Usable?
Where appropriate, usable items can be separated for reuse, donation or recycling rather than simply being treated as general waste.
We aim to divert as much suitable material as possible from landfill.
What Happens If You Find Money, Jewellery or Important Paperwork?
If we come across something that appears to be important, valuable or personal during the clearance, it should be set aside rather than treated as general waste.
We can discuss the process for returning such items to the executor or appropriate person dealing with the estate.
Can You Clear a Rented Property After Someone Has Died?
Yes. We can provide house clearance services for rented properties where the property needs to be emptied before the keys are returned.
If there is a specific deadline for returning the property, tell us when requesting your quotation.
Do You Work with Solicitors?
Yes. Bryson Rubbish Clearance can work with solicitors dealing with probate and estate properties.
We can discuss the requirements directly with the solicitor and provide appropriate paperwork for the estate’s records.
Are Bryson Rubbish Clearance Registered?
Bryson Rubbish Clearance is registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier.
If you are arranging a house clearance, we recommend checking the credentials of any company before allowing them to remove waste from the property.
Get a Free Probate House Clearance Quote in Kent
If you are an executor, family member, landlord or solicitor looking for a probate house clearance in Kent, Bryson Rubbish Clearance can help.
We provide professional house clearance and rubbish removal services across Kent, with free, no-obligation quotations.
Whether you need a single room cleared or an entire property emptied from the loft to the garden, contact the Bryson Rubbish Clearance team to discuss what you need.
Send us photographs of the property or arrange a visit and we’ll provide a quotation. You can also see examples of our previous work in our clearance gallery.
We work across Sittingbourne, Faversham, the Isle of Sheppey, Maidstone, Canterbury, Medway, Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham, Strood and Rainham, as well as surrounding areas.
Looking for a probate house clearance company in Kent? Get in touch with Bryson Rubbish Clearance today.
