What happens to energy and water bills when someone dies in a property they rented?
When someone dies while living in a rented property, their energy and water bills don't simply stop, but the situation is different in important ways from when a property is owned.
This article covers rented properties that are left vacant after the death, for example, where the person lived alone. If someone else continues to live in the property (a partner, flatmate, or family member), the situation is usually simpler: the remaining occupant can transfer the utility accounts into their own name and the tenancy may be assignable or succeed to them depending on the agreement.
If the person who died owned their home, read our guide on what happens to energy and water bills when someone dies in a property they owned.
The tenancy doesn't end automatically (in most cases)
The most important thing to understand is that a tenancy does not automatically end the moment someone dies. Until it is formally brought to an end, the tenancy continues, and so do the bills that go with it.
The main exception is where the person died without a will and without a named executor. In that situation, the tenancy passes temporarily to the Public Trustee (an official government role) and will end automatically one month after the date of death. Even if this applies, contact energy and water suppliers promptly because charges continue to accrue until the tenancy formally ends.
For the more common scenario, where there is a will and a named executor, the executor takes over responsibility for the tenancy and must work with the landlord to bring it to an end. The estate remains liable for rent and utilities during this period.
The bills become a responsibility of the estate
Energy and water charges do not die with the person. Until the tenancy is formally ended, they become a liability of the estate, which is the sum of everything the person owned.
As the executor or administrator, you are responsible for making sure any outstanding bills are eventually settled from the estate's funds. You are not expected to pay them from your own pocket unless you choose to.
Once the tenancy ends and the keys are returned to the landlord, responsibility for the bills passes back to the landlord. Any charges that accrued during the tenancy remain the estate's responsibility; anything after the handover date is the landlord's.
Energy: what actually happens
Notify the supplier as soon as you can
Contact the energy supplier whose details appear on the most recent bill. Their bereavement team will flag the account and pause standard collection procedures, so no late payment charges or debt collection activity happens while the estate is being managed.
The account is transferred to the estate
Once notified, the supplier will typically:
Close the deceased person's account and issue a final bill up to the point of notification
Open a temporary account in the name of "The Estate of [Full Name]" to cover any ongoing charges while the tenancy is being wound down
Issue a closing bill once the tenancy ends and the keys are returned
The estate's account covers the period between the date of death and the date the tenancy formally ends. After that, the supplier will usually open a new account in the landlord's name for any period the property sits empty.
Charges during the notice period
If there is a notice period before the tenancy can be ended (for example, if the tenancy agreement requires one or two months' notice) energy charges will continue to accrue during that time. These remain the estate's responsibility.
Take a meter reading when handing back the keys
When the tenancy ends and the keys are returned to the landlord, take a meter reading and photograph the meters. This gives you a clear record of the final usage figure and avoids any later dispute about what the estate owes versus what falls to the landlord.
If the property has a smart meter, the supplier can access an accurate reading remotely without anyone needing to visit.
The deposit
If the deceased held a tenancy deposit, it should be returned to the estate once the landlord has assessed the property and agreed any fair deductions. This is one area where things can take longer than families expect.
Most government-authorised tenancy deposit schemes require a Grant of Probate naming the executor before they will release the deposit. If probate hasn't yet been obtained, some schemes (such as the Deposit Protection Service) can provide a Next of Kin Declaration and Indemnity Form as an alternative route, which may allow the process to proceed without waiting for the full grant. Contact the relevant scheme early to understand what documentation they need.
Water: the same principle applies
Water charges follow the same logic. The estate is responsible for water bills until the tenancy formally ends and the keys are returned. After that, the water company will be informed and any remaining liability falls to the landlord.
As with energy, notify the water company promptly. They will usually be flexible about payment timing while probate is under way.
One practical note: even in a vacant property during the final weeks of a tenancy, leave the water supply connected. Turning it off and on can cause problems, and if the property suffers frost damage during a vacant period before handover, it could complicate the return of the deposit.
Ending the tenancy: a brief note
This guide focuses on energy and water bills, but a few practical points about ending the tenancy itself are useful here too.
Strictly speaking, the tenancy can only be formally ended once probate has been granted and the executor has legal authority to act. In practice, most landlords will agree to end the tenancy early by mutual surrender, before probate is complete, particularly when it is in everyone's interest to vacate and hand back the property promptly. If you reach this agreement, make sure it is confirmed in writing with a clear date from which no further rent is due.
Once the arrangement is agreed, the practical steps are:
Clear the property of the deceased's belongings
Arrange for the property to be cleaned
Take meter readings on the day the keys are handed back
Return the keys on or before the agreed final date
Once these steps are complete, the estate's obligations for rent and utilities end from that agreed date.
Notifying energy and water suppliers
Legacy Trail can handle this for you. Contacting suppliers is one of the tasks we take care of on your behalf, so you don't have to work through each company's bereavement process yourself. If you'd like us to notify the energy and water suppliers for the property, you can add them when setting up your case.
This guide covers vacant rented properties where the person who died was the sole occupant. If someone else continues to live in the property, the process is different - utility accounts can usually be transferred to the remaining occupant, and the tenancy may pass to them. Tenancy agreements and suppliers' processes vary. If you are unsure about notice periods, deposit disputes, or anything else specific to your situation, Citizens Advice or a solicitor can help.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Individual circumstances vary. If you are dealing with an estate, consider taking advice from a solicitor who specialises in probate. For other guidance specific to your circumstances, speak to a funeral director, Citizens Advice, or a regulated financial adviser.