Start by establishing who may decide and what the deadline is. Then secure papers and valuables, let the family choose what they want to keep, and only then clear up. Be careful with selling or giving things away as long as it is not clear whether the inheritance will be accepted.
The 10 steps
- Establish who decides
If there is an executor, they deal with the estate. Otherwise the heirs decide together, or one heir with a power of attorney from the others. You request a certificate of inheritance from the notary.
- Check the deadlines
For a rented home the tenancy ends at the end of the second month after the death, unless a co-tenant or household member continues it. A room in a care home often has to be empty within about a week. For an owned home the transfer date counts if the house is sold.
- Secure papers and valuables
Paperwork, will, insurance policies, bank papers, jewellery, cash, keys and phones or computers. Keep them in one place.
- Be careful with selling and giving away
Emptying and clearing up counts as managing the estate. Selling or giving away items of value can count as accepting the inheritance. If you are unsure, speak to the notary first.
- Sort out subscriptions and meter readings
Cancel subscriptions and contracts, and note the meter readings on the day of handover.
- Let the family choose
Ask everyone to say what they want to keep. Mark those items, or have them collected beforehand. Taking photos helps with dividing things fairly.
- Arrange what has to be handled separately
Medication goes back to the pharmacy, rented aids to the supplier. Paint, oil and gas cylinders do not belong with ordinary waste. Do not remove asbestos yourself.
- Choose: do it yourself or have it done
Usable items can go to a second-hand shop, and the municipality can collect bulky waste. If there is little time or a lot of work, you can outsource the clearance.
- Plan the clearance and the handover
For a rented home, ask what requirements the landlord has. Plan the clearance well before the final inspection or the transfer.
- Hand over and keep the proof
Take photos of the empty home, hand in all the keys and keep the proof of handover and the final settlement.
Need help?
We take over the emptying: from the keep list to the broom-clean handover, with personal belongings kept apart and a fixed price in advance. Read how we work in a house clearance after a death, or send photos straight away via the request form.
Frequently asked questions
May I take items before the inheritance has been divided?
Talk to the other heirs or the executor first. Taking, selling or giving away items of value can also count as accepting the inheritance; if in doubt, ask the notary.
How much time do I have to empty a rented home?
If nobody continues the tenancy, it ends at the end of the second month after the death. The heirs can also end the tenancy by the end of the first month.
What do I do with papers and photos?
Keep everything in one place for the executor or the family. Do not throw anything away until it is clear what is still needed to settle the estate.
More about house clearance
Last updated: 19 October 2026
Want to hand it over to us?
Send us photos of the home and the deadline. You will receive a fixed price, usually within one working day.