When a Housing ACT tenant dies

For household members

If a person you share your home with dies, Housing ACT will help you, your family and other tenants through the next steps.

If you are a joint tenant, we will work with you to support your housing needs.

If you are an adult who lives in the home, you cannot keep living in the house if you are not on the lease. You can ask us for a short-term lease (occupancy agreement) to give you time to find another place to live.

Getting financial support

You may be able to get help from Services Australia when a loved one dies.

You may get a bereavement payment if:

• the person who died was your partner
• you were a carer for the person who died.

Steps to follow after someone dies

You can contact Housing ACT at any time about what to do next.

1. Tell us of the death

You can let us know about the death if you are an:

• authorised family representative
• executor of the estate.

You can ask us about anything you are concerned about.

Contact us

Who else to tell

You can use the Services Australia checklist for who to tell when someone dies.

2. Give us supporting documents

You will need to give us:

• proof that you are the executor or authorised family representative
• a death certificate for the person or a death notice from the newspaper.

When we get this information, we will:

• change the rental account name
• send all communication through you as the executor or authorised family representative.

3. Keep paying the rent

You must keep paying rent until you return the keys to Housing ACT.

The rent is the same rent at the time of the tenant’s death.

If the rent was deducted from Centrelink or a bank account

You need to tell Centrelink or the bank that the person has died.

You can ask the bank if there is an option to keep paying the rent.

4. Agree on a date to move out

You’ll usually get about 3 weeks to move out of the house. During that time you must:

• attend a house inspection
• agree on a time to fix any issues.

We will write to the executor or authorised family representative to confirm the arrangements.

5. Attend the inspection

We will arrange a time to meet with you to inspect the property.

First inspection

We will note any damage you’re responsible for (called tenant responsible maintenance).

You will get a copy of the inspection report.

You will have time to complete the repairs or maintenance before handing back the property.

If you do not complete the maintenance, we will do it. We will send the bill to you as the executor or authorised family representative.

Leaving items at the home

You may be able to leave some household items, such as:

• curtains, blinds and curtain tracks
• dishwashers and air conditioners.

They must be:

• in good condition
• not a risk to a new tenant.

You must tell us about these items and we must agree to you leaving them.

Tenant modifications

Special conditions apply to items like pergolas, garden sheds, garages and carports.

You should ask about these when you talk to us.

Second inspection

We will inspect again after you remove the furniture and clean the house.

We will note any extra tenant responsible maintenance we can see.

We will send you a bill for

• any rent you owe
• tenant responsible maintenance
• cleaning.

6. Ending the tenancy

The tenancy will formally end on the day you return the keys.

7. Paying debts and other costs

If the estate of the person who has died cannot cover the costs, you must provide proof. This could be a letter from the Office of the Public Trustee or the solicitor acting for the Estate. Housing ACT may write off the debt.

Get advice about deceased estates

You can get advice about deceased estates from the Office of the Public Trustee for the ACT.