Legacy Property Services Cumbria

Probate Property Clearance Checklist

A step-by-step checklist for executors

5 min read

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Before you begin

Obtain the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
Locate and secure the property — change locks if necessary
Notify utilities (gas, electricity, water) and redirect post
Inform the local council for council tax exemption (probate properties are usually exempt for up to 6 months)
Check the property insurance is in place — standard home insurance may lapse on an unoccupied property
Notify the mortgage lender if applicable

Obtain the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
Locate and secure the property — change locks if necessary
Notify utilities (gas, electricity, water) and redirect post
Inform the local council for council tax exemption (probate properties are usually exempt for up to 6 months)
Check the property insurance is in place — standard home insurance may lapse on an unoccupied property
Notify the mortgage lender if applicable

Identifying and valuing contents

Walk through the property and make a written inventory of all contents
Identify any items of potential value — antiques, jewellery, artwork, collectibles
Arrange a specialist valuation for any items that may be significant to the estate
Agree with beneficiaries which items are to be retained, sold, donated, or disposed of
Document decisions in writing — this protects you as executor

Walk through the property and make a written inventory of all contents
Identify any items of potential value — antiques, jewellery, artwork, collectibles
Arrange a specialist valuation for any items that may be significant to the estate
Agree with beneficiaries which items are to be retained, sold, donated, or disposed of
Document decisions in writing — this protects you as executor

Arranging the clearance

Obtain at least two written quotes from licensed clearance companies
Confirm the company holds a valid Waste Carrier Licence (check the Environment Agency register)
Confirm the company is fully insured (public liability)
Agree the scope in writing — what is included, what is excluded, and what happens to items of value found during clearance
Confirm the date and agree access arrangements
Ask for a written completion note on the day — you will need this for the estate file

Obtain at least two written quotes from licensed clearance companies
Confirm the company holds a valid Waste Carrier Licence (check the Environment Agency register)
Confirm the company is fully insured (public liability)
Agree the scope in writing — what is included, what is excluded, and what happens to items of value found during clearance
Confirm the date and agree access arrangements
Ask for a written completion note on the day — you will need this for the estate file

During the clearance

Ensure someone with authority is available by phone throughout the clearance day
Ask the team to set aside any documents, photographs, or personal items found — do not allow these to be disposed of without review
Check outbuildings, loft spaces, and under-stair storage are included in the scope
Confirm any hazardous materials (old paint, chemicals, asbestos) are being handled correctly

Ensure someone with authority is available by phone throughout the clearance day
Ask the team to set aside any documents, photographs, or personal items found — do not allow these to be disposed of without review
Check outbuildings, loft spaces, and under-stair storage are included in the scope
Confirm any hazardous materials (old paint, chemicals, asbestos) are being handled correctly

After the clearance

Obtain the written completion note and waste transfer documentation
File all documentation with the estate papers
Arrange any required deep clean, repairs, or decorating before the property goes to market
Instruct the estate agent and arrange an EPC if required
Notify the solicitor that the property is ready for sale

Obtain the written completion note and waste transfer documentation
File all documentation with the estate papers
Arrange any required deep clean, repairs, or decorating before the property goes to market
Instruct the estate agent and arrange an EPC if required
Notify the solicitor that the property is ready for sale

Ready to discuss your probate property?

Free assessment visit, packages from £395, and we aim to visit within 48 hours of your enquiry.

Get a free quote 07940 366 479

Legacy Property Services Cumbria · 07940 366 479 · care@legacypropertyservicescumbria.com · legacypropertyservicescumbria.com

Legacy Property Services Cumbria

Pricing & Regulatory Guide

How pricing works, what's included, and your legal obligations

7 min read

How our pricing works

All quotes are based on a free assessment visit — we never quote blind
House clearance packages start from £395 for a standard one-bedroom property
Pricing is based on the volume of contents, the number of rooms, access, and any specialist requirements
All quotes are itemised — you'll see a separate line for clearance, deep clean, repairs, decorating, outbuildings, and garden
There are no hidden costs, no call-out charges, and no surcharges for stairs or difficult access
Payment is due on completion — we do not require a deposit

All quotes are based on a free assessment visit — we never quote blind
House clearance packages start from £395 for a standard one-bedroom property
Pricing is based on the volume of contents, the number of rooms, access, and any specialist requirements
All quotes are itemised — you'll see a separate line for clearance, deep clean, repairs, decorating, outbuildings, and garden
There are no hidden costs, no call-out charges, and no surcharges for stairs or difficult access
Payment is due on completion — we do not require a deposit

What's included as standard

Removal of all furniture, personal effects, and household contents
Responsible disposal — items are sorted for reuse, donation, recycling, or licensed disposal
Written completion note for the estate file
Waste transfer documentation (required by law)
Setting aside of any documents, photographs, or personal items found during clearance
Basic sweep-out of cleared rooms

Removal of all furniture, personal effects, and household contents
Responsible disposal — items are sorted for reuse, donation, recycling, or licensed disposal
Written completion note for the estate file
Waste transfer documentation (required by law)
Setting aside of any documents, photographs, or personal items found during clearance
Basic sweep-out of cleared rooms

Waste carrier licensing — what you need to know

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Controlled Waste Regulations 2012, household waste must be disposed of by a licensed waste carrier
As executor, you have a legal duty of care to ensure waste from the property is disposed of correctly
Always ask any clearance company for their Waste Carrier Licence number — you can verify it on the Environment Agency public register
Legacy Property Services holds a valid Waste Carrier Licence — we will provide the licence number on request
We provide a Waste Transfer Note for every clearance — keep this with the estate papers
Fly-tipping is a criminal offence — using an unlicensed carrier puts you at risk as the waste producer

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Controlled Waste Regulations 2012, household waste must be disposed of by a licensed waste carrier
As executor, you have a legal duty of care to ensure waste from the property is disposed of correctly
Always ask any clearance company for their Waste Carrier Licence number — you can verify it on the Environment Agency public register
Legacy Property Services holds a valid Waste Carrier Licence — we will provide the licence number on request
We provide a Waste Transfer Note for every clearance — keep this with the estate papers
Fly-tipping is a criminal offence — using an unlicensed carrier puts you at risk as the waste producer

Data protection and personal documents

Personal documents found during clearance (bank statements, passports, correspondence) are set aside and handed to the executor — never disposed of without instruction
We do not read, copy, or retain any personal documents found during clearance
If you require secure document destruction, we can arrange this as an additional service
Digital devices (computers, phones, tablets) are set aside for the executor to deal with — we do not access or dispose of them

Personal documents found during clearance (bank statements, passports, correspondence) are set aside and handed to the executor — never disposed of without instruction
We do not read, copy, or retain any personal documents found during clearance
If you require secure document destruction, we can arrange this as an additional service
Digital devices (computers, phones, tablets) are set aside for the executor to deal with — we do not access or dispose of them

Items of potential value

We flag any items that may have value during the assessment visit and again during clearance
We can arrange for a specialist valuer to attend before clearance begins — at no additional cost to you
Items identified as potentially valuable are set aside and not disposed of without your explicit instruction
Any proceeds from the sale of estate items belong to the estate — not to Legacy Property Services

We flag any items that may have value during the assessment visit and again during clearance
We can arrange for a specialist valuer to attend before clearance begins — at no additional cost to you
Items identified as potentially valuable are set aside and not disposed of without your explicit instruction
Any proceeds from the sale of estate items belong to the estate — not to Legacy Property Services

Ready to discuss your probate property?

Free assessment visit, packages from £395, and we aim to visit within 48 hours of your enquiry.

Get a free quote 07940 366 479

Legacy Property Services Cumbria · 07940 366 479 · care@legacypropertyservicescumbria.com · legacypropertyservicescumbria.com

Guides & checklists for executors