Who Owns A House If The Owner Dies Without Leaving A Will?

[kaaliz]

I'm writing a story and I need to know about this.

If a homeowner dies, having no children or living relatives, and doesn't leave a Will, what happens to their house?

[craft1948]

I would imagine it would go to the Treasury...

[Buenchico]

Under the intestacy rules, the whole of deceased person's estate (including the house) would pass to the Crown:
http://www.wrighthassall.co.uk/media/article/attachments/Intestacy_flowchart_after_1.10.14_5_Aug_14.pdf

However if the deceased person had been living with someone as if they were their spouse (for a period of at least 2 years immediately prior to the death occurring) that person could apply to a court to have the intestacy rules varied in order to 'make reasonable financial provision' for them.

Similarly any other non-relative. who was being maintained by the deceased person up until the time of their death, could apply for a variation of the intestacy rules, as could anyone (such as a step-child) who had been treated as a child of the deceased person during any marriage that the deceased person may have entered into.

In all of those circumstance it would up to the court to decide whether the claimant had any right to receive 'reasonable financial provision'.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/63

[waterboatman]

That's the way of it Chris. I can't remember the name of the lady that caused the law to be changed to make that so. She had lived with the man for many years as his wife although they had never married. He never left a will, but the court found in her favour and the law was changed accordingly.

[Old_Geezer]

No wonder royalty are so wealthy. You seem to imply they nick anything not nailed down. (Probably need it for swan food to fatten them up for Xmas. )

[woofgang]

One thing to point out is that if they had any debts then they would be repaid first, also funeral costs before the crown got the rest. There is also the "Bona Vacantia" list where unclaimed estates sit, not sure how long for.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia