We’re sorry you’re facing this: clearing a parent’s home is one of the hardest jobs there is. The simplest approach is to store the things nobody has decided about yet, such as furniture, household items and anything that might be sold later, and to keep the will, important papers and the most treasured keepsakes with you or a family member.
Give yourselves time to decide
A unit takes the rush out of it. If the house is being sold, or a rented home has to be handed back by a set date, storage lets the family decide about furniture, china and pictures later, together. Our guide for executors suggests four piles: keep, give to a specific person, sell later, and let go. The “keep” and “sell later” piles are the ones a unit suits best.
As things go in, photograph them and keep a simple list. It makes sharing things out easier, and it helps when the estate’s value is worked out.
Keep these close
- The original will: you’ll need it to apply for probate, so it stays with the executor.
- Bank, pension, insurance and tax papers, which the executor needs to deal with the estate.
- Cash, deeds and share certificates, which can’t go in a unit: a solicitor’s safe or the bank is the right place.
- The keepsakes that can never be replaced. A wedding ring, a bundle of letters or the only copy of a photograph is best kept close, with the family member who will treasure it, and scanning photos and letters means everyone can have a copy. If there’s something special you’d like to store, have a word with us first.
A few things that can’t go in
To keep everyone’s belongings safe, we can’t store food, plants, paint, fuel, gas bottles, aerosols or other flammables, so check the kitchen cupboards and garden shed before moving day. Our list of items we can’t store has the details.
If you’re the executor
You can rent a unit for the estate straight away, in your name as executor. If there’s more than one of you, agree together what goes into storage and what’s given away before anything leaves. Our page on who pays while an estate is sorted out covers the cost side.
If your parent is moving rather than passing on
Their belongings are still theirs, so decide together what comes with them and what’s stored. Our guide to storing a parent’s belongings when they move into care may help.
If they already had a unit with us
Please call us and we’ll talk you through the next steps. Our page on what happens when the renter dies explains more.
If the last few weeks have been hard, Cruse Bereavement Support’s free helpline is on 0808 808 1677. When you’re ready, call us on 0800 2545585 and tell us roughly what’s staying, and our team will help you work out the size you need. Or get a price online.
Related questions
- Who pays for storage while an estate is being sorted out?
- Should I put things into storage before a house clearance?
- Can I store photographs, negatives and old film?
Further reading
- GOV.UK: Applying for probate: before you apply
- GOV.UK: Dealing with the estate of someone who’s died
- Cruse Bereavement Support: Helpline