Notify banks, utilities and insurers
Work down the list, one organisation at a time.
Direct debits keep going out and subscriptions keep renewing until someone stops them.
- How long it takes
- Several weeks, in short bursts
- Typical cost
- Free
- What you need before you start
- Death certificates
- Account numbers
Banks, building societies, mortgage lender, credit cards, private pensions, life insurance, car and home insurance, energy, water, council tax, broadband, phone, TV licence, subscriptions.
Ask each one for a bereavement reference number and write it in your locker. It saves repeating the whole story next time.
Take meter readings at the property on the date it becomes empty.
Tell the home insurer the property is unoccupied. Not telling them can void the policy.
Reference numbers from this step
Saved on this device, and gathered together in your reference numbers.
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 19 August 2026 by Simon D Campbell. Applies to England and Wales.