Updated 29 June 2026
When someone dies, there are many practical and administrative tasks to deal with. Funeral arrangements, registering the death and notifying banks, pension providers and insurance companies often come first, but it is also important not to overlook household bills and property costs.
If the person who has died owned or lived in a property, bills may still need to be paid while the estate is being dealt with. This can include gas, electricity, water, council tax, buildings insurance and other regular household outgoings.
In most cases, these costs are paid from the estate by the executor or administrator. However, there are some important steps to take as soon as possible, particularly if the property is now empty.
Quick answer: who pays bills after death?
Household bills and property costs are usually paid from the estate of the person who has died. The executor named in the
Will, or the administrator if there is no Will, is responsible for dealing with these payments as part of the estate administration.
Family members do not usually have to pay the deceased person’s bills from their own money, unless they were jointly responsible for the account or had personally guaranteed a debt. However, they may need to contact providers quickly to explain what has happened and prevent unnecessary problems, such as missed payments, cancelled services or invalid insurance.
What should happen to bills after someone dies?
The first step is to identify which bills and services are connected to the property. These may include:
- Gas and electricity
- Water
- Council tax
- Buildings and contents insurance
- Mortgage payments
- Service charges or ground rent
- Broadband, landline or TV services
- Home security or maintenance contracts
It is usually sensible to take meter readings, find account numbers and contact each provider to let them know about the death. Many organisations have bereavement teams who can update the account, pause payment demands or explain what information they need.
If the deceased person’s bank account is frozen after the bank has been notified of the death, direct debits and standing orders may stop. This is one reason why it is important to contact suppliers promptly rather than waiting for missed payment letters to arrive.
Insurance on an empty property after death
If the property is empty after the death, the home insurance provider should be told as soon as possible.
A standard home insurance policy may not provide the same level of cover once a property is unoccupied for a certain period of time. Some insurers may impose additional conditions, such as regular property checks, keeping the heating on during colder months or ensuring the property is secure.
If the insurer is not told that the property is empty, the policy could become invalid. This may leave the estate exposed if there is a burglary, escape of water, fire or other damage.
The executor or administrator should check:
- Whether the existing policy remains valid
- How long the property can be left empty under the policy
- Whether specialist unoccupied property insurance is needed
- Whether the insurer requires regular inspections
- Whether valuable items should be removed or separately insured
Keeping insurance in place is particularly important if the property will remain empty while probate is being obtained, the property is cleared, or a sale is arranged.
Utility bills after death
Utility companies should be notified of the death as soon as possible. This includes gas, electricity and water providers.
In many cases, the supplier will update the account and explain whether bills can be paused, transferred or paid later from the estate. This can be especially helpful if the estate does not yet have access to funds.
It is usually worth keeping essential utilities connected, even if the property is empty. Heating may be needed during cold weather to reduce the risk of frozen or burst pipes. Electricity and water may also be needed while the property is being cleared, cleaned, valued or prepared for sale.
The executor or administrator should usually:
- Take meter readings as soon as possible
- Notify each supplier of the death
- Ask whether the account can be placed on hold until probate is granted
- Keep essential services connected where needed
- Cancel services that are no longer required, such as broadband or TV packages
- Keep records of all bills paid from the estate
Council tax after death
Council tax should also be dealt with promptly after someone dies.
If the property is left empty because the person responsible for paying council tax has died, a council tax exemption may apply. This is commonly known as a Class F exemption. It can apply while the property remains unoccupied and probate or letters of administration have not yet been granted. In many cases, it can continue for up to six months after the grant, provided the property remains unoccupied and has not been sold or transferred.
The exact process is handled by the local authority, so the executor or administrator should contact the council as soon as possible and ask what evidence they need.
If someone else still lives in the property, council tax may still be payable. However, if there is now only one adult living there, they may be entitled to a single person discount of 25%.
Can the Tell Us Once service help?
The
Tell Us Once service allows you to report a death to several government departments and public sector organisations at the same time. This can include the local council, HMRC, DWP, DVLA and the Passport Office.
However, Tell Us Once does not usually notify private companies such as utility providers, insurers, broadband suppliers or mortgage lenders. These organisations normally need to be contacted separately.
What if there is a mortgage on the property?
If the person who has died had a mortgage, the lender should be contacted as soon as possible. The mortgage does not automatically disappear after death and the lender will need to know what has happened.
Depending on the circumstances, the mortgage may be repaid from the estate, from the sale of the property, or from a life insurance policy. If the mortgage was held jointly, the surviving borrower may remain responsible for payments.
The executor or administrator should avoid making assumptions and should speak to the lender about the account, any payment arrangements and the next steps.
Who is responsible for paying outstanding bills?
The executor or administrator is responsible for dealing with the deceased person’s financial affairs. This includes identifying debts, paying valid bills from the estate and keeping accurate records.
Bills should usually be paid from estate funds, not from the executor’s personal money. If there are not enough funds available immediately, providers may be willing to wait until probate has been granted and estate money can be accessed.
The executor or administrator will also need to prepare estate accounts showing money received, bills paid, debts settled and distributions made to beneficiaries.
What happens if there is no Will?
If there is no Will, the estate is dealt with under the
intestacy rules. Instead of an executor, an administrator will need to apply for authority to deal with the estate.
The administrator has a similar role to an executor and will usually be responsible for contacting organisations, dealing with the property, paying estate bills and distributing the estate correctly.
Dealing with an estate without a Will can be more complicated, particularly if there is disagreement about who should deal with the administration or who is entitled to inherit.
Should you appoint a professional executor?
Administering an estate can involve a lot of responsibility. This is especially true if there is a property to maintain, bills to manage, inheritance tax to calculate, probate to apply for and beneficiaries to update.
Some people choose to appoint a professional executor in their Will so that an experienced legal professional can deal with the administration when the time comes. This can be helpful where family members live far away, there are complex assets, or there is a risk of disagreement.
A professional executor can help ensure that bills are paid correctly, estate accounts are prepared, deadlines are met and the estate is administered properly.
Need help dealing with an estate?
If you are dealing with a property, bills or probate after someone has died, we can help you understand your responsibilities and the next steps.
Book a
free initial meeting today to discuss your circumstances and explain your options.
FAQs about bills after death
Do utility bills have to be paid after someone dies?
Yes, utility bills usually still need to be paid, but they are normally paid from the estate. The executor or administrator should contact the suppliers, explain the situation and ask how the account will be handled.
Can utility companies demand payment from family members?
Family members are not usually personally responsible for the deceased person’s utility bills unless they were named on the account or were otherwise legally responsible. The bills are normally treated as debts of the estate.
Does council tax stop when someone dies?
Council tax may stop temporarily if the property is left empty after the person responsible for paying council tax has died. A Class F exemption may apply, but the local council should be contacted to confirm the position.
Should you keep heating on in an empty house after death?
It is often sensible to keep some heating on during colder months to help prevent frozen or burst pipes. You should also check the insurance policy, as the insurer may set specific conditions for an empty property.
What happens if the deceased person’s bank account is frozen?
Once the bank is notified of the death, the deceased person’s account may be frozen. This can stop direct debits and standing orders, so suppliers should be contacted to prevent missed payments and agree how bills will be handled.
