Sorting through a loved one’s home is one of the hardest parts of dealing with an estate. Amongst personal belongings, furniture can cause confusion because it falls into a unique category: it carries both sentimental and monetary value. Until the legalities are sorted, all household items remain part of the estate and fall under the responsibility of the executor or administrator.
Valuing the Contents of the Estate
Before anything can be given away, sold, or cleared, the furniture must be valued. For Inheritance Tax and probate application purposes, the executor needs to calculate the total market value of the estate’s personal possessions (often referred to legally as chattels). GOV.UK confirms that household goods and furniture should be included when estimating the value of an estate.
You do not need an official valuation for every individual chair or table. Standard household furniture is valued at its second-hand market rate, what it would realistically sell for at a local auction or second-hand shop, rather than what it cost brand new. However, if there are valuable antiques, mid-century design pieces, or rare items, hiring a professional valuer is essential to ensure the tax figures submitted to HMRC are accurate. HMRC states that household goods should generally be valued at the price they might reasonably be expected to fetch if sold on the open market at the relevant time.
Deciding Where Everything Goes
The will is always your starting point. First, check if specific pieces were left to named people. If not, the beneficiaries usually sit down and agree on who wants what, adjusting everyone’s share of the final cash payout to keep things fair.
Anything left can be sold online or at auction, with the money going straight into the estate bank account to clear debts or split between heirs. If items have no real resale value, donating them to charity or booking a local house clearance company clears the space so the property can be put up for sale or handed back to a landlord.
Read more information on professional valuations, probate and waste management. Explore our latest guides for practical advice on managing an estate, dealing with probate, safeguarding executors and carrying out your responsibilities when administering an estate.
If you require help with house clearance or maintenance, contact National Clearances on 020 3985 9552.