Best guide to transfer ownership of a property after death in the UK

1. Best guide to transfer ownership of a property after death in the UK When a relative or friend dies, there may be a property that is part of the estate which has been left in the will to a beneficiary or needs to be sold. The property’s ownership will need to be transferred to either the co-owner, usually a spouse or civil partner, if in both of their names, transferred to the new owner if being sold, or transferred to the beneficiary. Transferring ownership is changing the name of the owner on the property’s Title Deeds. Different situations, such as whether there is a will or not, and whether the property is tenanted, require different documentation. Here are the steps you need to take to transfer ownership of a property after death. When a joint owner dies When a joint owner of a property dies, fill in form DJP to remove their name from the register. Send the completed form to HM Land Registry, along with an official copy of the death certificate. When a sole owner dies When the sole owner of a property has died, the property is normally transferred to either: the person inheriting the property (known as ‘the beneficiary’) a third party, for example someone buying the property · ·

2. There is no law to say that you must remove the deceased’s name from the title deeds of inherited property. However, it is recommended to keep the Land Registry up-to-date with any changes of ownership to ensure any future transactions with that property are accurate; for example, if you wanted to sell the property at a later date, transferring ownership to the buyers will be a simpler process for the conveyancers. It is also a good way to avoid being the victim of any scams or fraudulent activity as the Land Registry will be able to track the accurate ownership of the property.