Probate and Bereavement House Clearance
Clearing the home of someone who has died is hard. Kwikshift's crews take on the heavy lifting with care, keep aside anything that matters, and work around the family, the executor and the solicitor.
Carried out by Kwikshift Removals & Storage · licensed waste carrier · £10m insured
A Clearance That Goes at Your Pace
House Clearance Staffordshire works in partnership with Kwikshift Removals & Storage. Kwikshift Removals Ltd carries out the work, with its own crews and vans. Kwikshift has been in removals for over 15 years and carries £10 million public liability insurance.
After a death there is a lot to sort out, and the house often comes last. Some families want it cleared quickly because a council tenancy is ending. Others need it to wait until probate is granted, or until everyone has had a chance to visit one last time.
We fit around you. There is no pressure to book, and nothing is thrown away until you have said what is staying.
How a Bereavement Clearance Works
Every family is different, but most clearances follow the same few steps.
1. Tell us who is in charge
That might be you, a brother or sister, the executor or a solicitor. Kwikshift will send the quote to that person and take instructions only from them. It saves confusion when several relatives are involved.
2. Decide what is being kept
Walk round the house and label anything that family members want. Coloured stickers work well, one colour per person. Or put everything you are keeping in one room and lock the door.
3. Agree the quote and a date
Send photos of each room, the loft and any outbuildings, with the postcode and any deadline. For a larger house, Kwikshift may want to see the property first.
4. The crew clears the house
Kept items stay put or go where you ask. Good furniture is passed on to new homes or charities where possible. The rest goes to licensed sites. The house is left empty.
Papers, Photos and Valuables
Older homes often hold things the family didn't know about: bank books in a biscuit tin, cash in a coat pocket, letters in a loft. Executors need many of these papers to value the estate and close accounts.
The crew watches out for them as they work. Anything that looks important or personal is put to one side and handed back. That includes:
- Wills, deeds, bank and pension letters
- Cash, coins and bank cards
- Jewellery and watches
- Photos, albums and letters
- Medals, certificates and keepsakes
- Spare keys and passports
Even so, it is wise for the family to do a first search themselves. Check drawers, handbags, the backs of wardrobes and under the mattress.
A note for executors: GOV.UK says that when you value the estate, possessions are valued at what they would sell for. If anything may be worth money, such as jewellery, paintings or antiques, record or value it before the clearance. Photos of each room are a simple start.
Need a parent's or relative's home cleared, now or after probate?
Send the postcode, preferred date, access details and a few photos and Kwikshift will come back with a free quote.
Get a Free QuoteTiming: Before or After Probate?
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone's property, money and possessions after they die. GOV.UK explains it in its guide to applying for probate. It also advises that you should not put the property on the market until you have probate.
Whether you can clear the house sooner depends on the will, who owns what and the instructions of the executor. This is general guidance, not legal advice. If you are not sure, ask the solicitor handling the estate before you book.
Some common situations:
- Selling the house. Many executors book the clearance once probate is granted and the sale is lined up. An empty house is easier for agents to photograph and for buyers to view.
- Waiting for probate. If the house must be emptied before probate comes through, items the family is unsure about can go into storage instead of being cleared.
- A rented home. Rent may still be due until the tenancy ends and the keys are returned, so timing matters more.
If you are at the very start, GOV.UK's what to do after someone dies covers registering the death and the Tell Us Once service. Our guide to probate house clearance in Staffordshire goes into more detail on planning the clearance.
Returning a Council or Housing Association Home
When a council or housing association tenant dies, the landlord will usually want the home empty and the keys back by a set date. The notice period and the rules differ between landlords, so contact them as soon as you can.
As one local example, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's tenancy ending form says:
- only two weeks' notice is needed on the death of a tenant;
- the next of kin or executor will need to give a copy of the death certificate;
- there may be a charge if the council has to remove furniture or rubbish left in the home, garden or outbuildings;
- more rent may be charged if keys are returned late.
So it helps to book the clearance early, ideally as soon as you know the end date. Tell Kwikshift the date the keys must go back, and the quote and booking can be planned around it. Kwikshift aims to reply promptly during business hours, normally within 60 minutes.
When Family Live Far Away
It is common for children to live a long way from a parent's home in Staffordshire. You don't have to take days off work to stand in an empty house.
- Photos for the quote. A neighbour, friend or the estate agent can take them if you can't get there.
- Keys by arrangement. Keys can be collected from a solicitor, estate agent or neighbour, and returned the same way.
- Keepsakes moved to you. Kwikshift carries out removals all over the UK, so the furniture you are keeping can be brought to your home.
- Storage while you decide. Secure, CCTV-monitored storage is available for short or long periods.
Where we work
Kwikshift's crews cover Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford and Leek, along with Kidsgrove, Stone, Biddulph and Cheadle.
If you only need part of the house cleared, or the home is being cleared for another reason, see our full and part house clearance page. You may also find how long a house clearance takes useful when planning dates.
Trusted by Hundreds of Customers
Every job is carried out by Kwikshift Removals & Storage, an established removals, clearance and storage company with over 15 years in the trade.
What customers say about Kwikshift
- Friendly, efficient crews, often praised by name
- Belongings handled with care, from furniture to fragile items
- Clear communication from first enquiry to the finished job
Frequently Asked Questions
Talk to Us When You're Ready
Tell us what needs clearing, moving or storing. Kwikshift aims to reply promptly during business hours, normally within 60 minutes.