Sell Inherited Property
Sell an Inherited Property (Probate Made Simple)
You can sell an inherited property once probate (or letters of administration) is granted — and a genuine cash buyer can complete in 7–28 days afterward, with no fees and no need to clear or repair the home first. Inherited houses are often empty, dated or jointly owned, and carry mounting holding costs and tax deadlines, which is exactly where a quick, certain sale removes stress and expense. This guide explains when you can sell, the Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax position, how to sell as-is, and how to get the strongest offer by comparing several vetted buyers at once.
What is your property worth?
Get genuine offers from checked & vetted buyers.
- 7–28days once probate is granted
- As-isno clearing or repairs
- £0fees — legals often covered
- 60 daysto report any CGT after sale
Is a quick probate sale right for you?
Five quick questions on the estate, the property and your priorities — then a straight recommendation and the safe way to act on it.
Where are you with probate?
What condition is the property in?
Are holding costs mounting?
How many beneficiaries are involved?
What matters most?
A quick, certain sale suits this estate.
An empty or dated probate home with mounting costs is exactly where a fast cash sale earns its keep — it stops the bills, settles the estate and splits cleanly. Do not take one company’s figure; get several vetted offers side by side so they compete, each checked for proof of funds, NAPB and TPO.
Compare offers →Compare a quick sale against the open market.
You have a little room to choose. Get a real valuation and a couple of genuine cash offers, then weigh the certain, faster figure against what an agent might net you more slowly. Decide with both numbers in hand.
Get offers to compare →You may do better on the open market.
With a modern home and no time pressure, an agent could net you more. Keep a vetted cash sale as a fallback if probate drags or the property sits empty. A free valuation is a sensible benchmark either way.
Get a free valuation →When can you sell an inherited house?
You generally need a grant of probate (where there’s a will) or letters of administration (where there isn’t) before completion. You can market and agree a sale beforehand, but it completes once the grant is through — and probate is only issued after any due Inheritance Tax has begun to be paid. A funded cash buyer can be ready to move the moment the grant arrives, which is why many families line up a sale while probate is still in progress.
- 1Probate / valuationApply for the grant and get a date-of-death valuation — it sets both the IHT and CGT position.
- 2Agree a saleMarket and accept an offer while the grant is processing — completion simply waits for it.
- 3Grant issuedOnce probate is granted, the legal authority to sell is in place.
- 4CompleteA cash sale completes in 7–28 days, the estate settles, and proceeds are split.
The tax position — Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax
Two taxes can apply, and the deadlines matter. Because IHT is due within six months but CGT only bites on a later rise in value, a prompt sale near the probate value often minimises both. This is a YMYL area — always take independent tax advice for your situation.
| Tax | How it works (2026/27) |
|---|---|
| Inheritance Tax | Assessed on the estate; due within 6 months of death, with interest (around 7.5–9%) after that. |
| Capital Gains Tax | None at inheritance — your base cost is the probate (date-of-death) value. CGT applies only on any rise in value between death and sale, above the £3,000 annual allowance, at 18% (basic) or 24% (higher) — reported within 60 days of completion. |
Sell as-is — no clearing or repairs
Genuine buyers purchase in any condition, including dated or full-of-belongings homes. That saves you the cost and emotional load of refurbishing or clearing a property you may not live near — and stops the holding costs (council tax, insurance, utilities, security) that mount on an empty inherited house. A reputable cash buyer pays roughly 75–85% of market value; comparing several keeps that figure honest.
- You receive 75–85% — fast, certain, fee-free, no clearing
- Their slice — refurb, holding and resale costs and risk
Joint ownership and siblings
Where siblings co-own an inherited property, all the beneficiaries must agree to sell. A clean, certain cash sale with a fixed date avoids the drawn-out disagreements that piecemeal open-market sales can cause, and splits the proceeds clearly into a single figure. See whether a sibling can force a sale and selling a jointly owned home.
Why a quick sale suits probate
An empty inherited home is a liability while it sits — holding costs, insurance complications for unoccupied property, and tax deadlines. A cash buyer completing in 7–28 days settles the estate quickly so beneficiaries can move on. Your solicitor handles the legals; we help you compare genuine offers.
Getting the strongest, safest offer
The biggest lever isn’t finding “the one” company — it’s comparison. Know the property’s real value, get several vetted offers side by side so they compete, check each for proof of funds, NAPB and TPO, and use your own solicitor.
We bring vetted buyers to you — for probate sales
Ready Steady Sell is independent — not a buyer. We put several checked & vetted, NAPB- and TPO-registered cash offers side by side, so you compare with no fee and no obligation, and no single company can lowball an estate.
Compare offers →Sell an inherited property — quickly and cleanly
Several checked & vetted cash offers, side by side, in minutes. Free, no obligation, no fees.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, no sales talk
Can I sell an inherited house before probate is granted?
You can market it and agree a sale, but completion normally must wait for the grant of probate or letters of administration. A cash buyer can be ready to complete as soon as the grant arrives.
Do I pay Capital Gains Tax on an inherited property?
Not at inheritance — your base cost is the probate (date-of-death) value. CGT applies only on any increase in value between death and sale, above the £3,000 annual allowance, at 18% or 24%. Report and pay within 60 days of completion. Selling near the probate value often means little or no CGT.
How long does probate take?
It varies, but commonly a few months from application, longer for complex estates. You can prepare and agree a sale during this time so you complete quickly once the grant is issued.
Do I have to clear the house before selling?
No — genuine cash buyers purchase as-is, including homes full of belongings. That saves the cost, time and stress of clearing and refurbishing a property, and stops holding costs mounting.
What if my siblings and I disagree about selling?
All co-beneficiaries normally need to agree to a sale. A fast, fixed-date cash sale with a clear split of proceeds is often the cleanest way to avoid prolonged disputes. Take legal advice if there’s deadlock.
