![]() ![]() The names and addresses of any executors to the will of the dead person.Whether a single person discount is now needed.They will require the following information: ![]() Council Tax After Deathįollowing the death of a loved one, the council tax office should be informed about the death of an occupant of a property. Read on for further information on how to cancel utility bills after death. There may be more to sort out if your loved one leaves a now unoccupied property. ![]() If you are inheriting or continuing to live in the property you shared with your loved one then, more often than not, you will simply need to contact the companies concerned and ask to be made the bill payer. Knowing key aspects of utility bills and the important role escrow can play in clearing those debts are all part of the trusted advisory role played by a knowledgeable broker.What happens to utility bills when someone dies depends on whether you are inheriting the property following the death of a loved one, or if they have left a now unoccupied property. Working with a competent real estate professional will help smooth your transaction. That’s part of the Seller Disclosure Statement, which only the seller can complete. In a related topic, the seller must also disclose the source and condition of the household water supply, any water rights that go along with the property and the condition of the sprinkler system (if relevant). They do this to both check on current homeowner statements, if possible, and determine average utility costs for the past 12 months to help future owners plan their budget. To stand out from their counterparts, some buyer brokers contact utility companies on behalf of their clients. Don’t let a seller’s past-due bills sour your new-home experience, if possible. As mentioned, some bills can hit new homeowners when private entities, such as Waste Management, are unable to track down the former owner. In a separate measure of protection, buyers should contact each utility company to establish an account unlinked to the previous owner – even if escrow or the seller have agreed to address final statements. To be clear, the payment of bills by escrow on a seller’s behalf only applies to government-run utility companies. Both parties must sign the document for it to be official. Either the listing agent or buyer’s brokers can insert the names and addresses of the utility companies identified by the seller. Sellers typically have 5 days from mutual acceptance to provide the MLS/utility form to buyers. The seller receives the unused balance of held escrow funds within about 3 weeks of consummating the deal. Based on experience, Seattle Public Utilities can be a little slow in completing its billing for water consumption since an on-site meter reading is required, essentially forcing sellers to allow escrow to complete the final payment. When the form is completed correctly, escrow holds back funds from the seller to ensure the bills are paid. Unfortunately, some sellers leave gaps on the form and escrow has no obligation to contact the unverified utility to check on a seller’s outstanding bills – a possible red flag that a good buyer’s broker will pursue with his real estate counterpart to sort through. This MLS form permits escrow agents to request payoff statements from utility companies that can attach liens. All that’s needed is a Northwest MLS form that includes the utility companies and their contact info, as well as signatures of all parties on the purchase and sale agreement. Escrow can be authorized to hold back a portion of the seller’s net proceeds to pay off the final bills. There’s an easy solution to this type of lien. Governments that run a utility can hold up the transfer of title when a lien is attached, unlike a private utility – such as Puget Sound Energy – which must go through a collections agency to get the money. A lien can be attached to an owner’s title if he/she is in arrears, but only when the utility is run by a local government – for example, in the City of Mountlake Terrace, which provides sewer and water service to its residents. There are times when a simple unpaid utility bill could hold up the sale. Don’t forget to actually close the accounts or sellers could still be responsible for utility costs after move-out. The companies can then forward the closing statements to the new address, with most also offering the option to deliver a letter near closing that shows the account is up to date. Sellers, of course, should contact utilities to provide a forwarding address and move-out date. No buyer wants to be on the hook for another person’s unpaid bills – but it can happen. Transferring ownership of a home is complex and part of that process is ensuring the seller is making good on paying off statements from utility companies. ![]()
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