This service is now provided by Bron Afon Community Housing|.
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is a difficult time. Death in itself is distressing and the administrative procedures involved can be an additional burden. This information is designed to provide you with advice at such a difficult time. Following the death of a family member who was a council tenant, contact the District Housing Office or Customer Care Centre as soon as possible with the following details:
-
Name of deceased
-
Address of deceased
-
Date of death
-
Contact name, address and telephone number of relative
-
Estimated date for returning of keys
-
Death Certificate (the member of staff will need to have sight of this and a photocopy will be made).
If you/anyone else was living in the property when the tenant passed away, you/they may be able to continue living there. Please contact your local District Housing Office, Customer Centres or Call Torfaen for further information. Contact details can be found on the back of this Information Sheet.
It is the intention of the Local Authority to minimise any distress to the family. You should be aware that legally, the tenancy does not end on the death of the tenant but continues until ended by the service of a valid Notice to Quit.
We can help you with this if you need further advice. Four weeks notice is the usual requirement, with the tenancy ending on a Sunday, but in certain circumstances this may be reduced, by prior agreement with the local District Housing Office. To do so, we would require you to return the keys to us by 12 noon on the Monday after the Sunday date upon which any Notice expires and to provide us with full vacant possession of the property.
The rent due and any other charges should be paid in full. If the keys are handed back after 12 noon another week’s rent may be incurred. Full vacant possession means that when you are handing back the property to the Council, the property should be secured, cleared of all people and possessions and left in a clean and tidy condition.
Where the late tenant received Housing/Council Tax Benefit, you will need to inform the Revenues and Benefits Team to cancel the Benefit claim. Please note that Benefit terminates on the Monday following the death.