Probate Property: Complete Support for Executors, Solicitors and Beneficiaries

There is a common misconception that a Will is enough to decide what happens to a person’s effects when they die, including a property they own.

If the deceased owned a property solely, probate is almost inevitable – even if the deceased made a Will. There are some exceptions, however, such as a surviving partner or if the estate is very low value.

A crash course in probate

A person’s effects can include cash, stocks, shares, pensions, antiques, collectables, jewellery and vehicles, as well as property. It is collectively known as their estate.

Probate is a legal and financial process that ensures the deceased’s debts are paid, their effects are distributed as they wished and any inheritance tax is paid. Up to four executors will be given the legal right to handle the deceased’s estate. These people are usually named in the Will. If there is no Will, a court can appoint an administrator to manage the probate process: GOV.UK: Applying for probate

Even an uncomplicated probate or administration process can take between 6 and 12 months. A conclusion can be drawn out further if the estate is complex, there are vital documents missing or there are legal challenges to the Will.

Property and probate

You may find yourself involved in a probate process more frequently than you imagine. Why? The Office for National Statistics says roughly 26.4 million adults in the UK own a property.

This figure sits side-by-side with a new living trend. In 2025, 8.6 million people lived alone in the UK. This represents a 10-year increase of 10.7% (up from 7.7 million in 2015). And of those living alone, around half were aged 65 years or over.

The net result is a growing number of sole owner occupiers who, when they die, will have a property that forms part of their estate. If you’re an agent, a chartered surveyor or a solicitor, probate may increasingly form part of your business. If you’re a member of the public, you may be called upon to be an executor or an administrator.

Looking after a probate property

We commonly refer to any property that forms part of an estate as a probate property. It doesn’t have to be a main residence. It could be a holiday home or a private rental if the deceased was a landlord. Some estates may feature multiple properties, which makes the management process more complicated.

A property will be the main focus of the probate process as it’s usually the most valuable asset. How it is valued, cared for and disposed of will be of utmost importance, and that presents an issue if those involved are miles away.

Viewber’s dedicated probate service is designed to mitigate the miles. We support executors, solicitors and probate professionals who are working at arm’s length, travelling to probate properties when it’s not feasible for them to do so.

Our network of almost 6,000 Viewbers ensures we have an available member close to every UK property. Sending a vetted local on your behalf saves time and travel costs. And for speed and convenience, a Viewber can be booked seven days a week, including evenings and Bank Holidays.

The list of property -specific probate tasks may surprise you – each difficult to manage if you’re not near the property. The list can comprise:

Keeping insurance policies valid: an empty property needs a specialist insurance policy, often referred to as unoccupied or vacant property insurance. Keeping these policies valid usually requires someone to physically visit and check the property every 7 to 14 days.

A Viewber can be booked to carry out these checks. We also offer a key management service to ensure repeat visits happen consistently and without hassle.

Letting in an estate agent or chartered surveyor: any property that forms part of an estate will need valuing. If the estate is of low value, it’s common for three estate agents to visit and provide a valuation. If an Inheritance Tax bill is likely, it’s advisable for a RICS chartered surveyor to provide a ‘Red Book’ valuation.

A Viewber can meet an agent or surveyor at the property on behalf of an executor, letting in and lock up after.

Vacant property checks, security and condition reports: unoccupied properties can easily fall into disrepair. A small drip from a water pipe could turn into a flood if the property goes unchecked. A broken windowpane? An authorised guest may gain access without anyone knowing. Damage devalues property and can affect the final sales price.

A Viewber can visit any property on a regular basis, checking for signs of damage and forced entry. Their report will inform executors and solicitors of what needs immediate attention.

Property visits: what executors can’t always do is clear post that is building up, move the bins on the right refuse day and remove parcels left on the doorstep.

A Viewber can be booked to perform basic housekeeping tasks, plus they can report back on whether the grass needs cutting and the front garden tidying – two other tell-tale signs that a property is vacant.

Locating important documents: the probate process relies on being able to prove who owns what, how much money is held where, and where assets should be distributed. With many documents pre-dating the digital age, locating papers can be a job in itself.

With permission, a Viewber can carefully locate important documents that might be stored in a property, including the Will.

Photography, floorplans, EPCs and viewings: a property often needs to be sold so an Inheritance Tax bill can be paid, debts settled and beneficiaries paid their fair share. While a property can’t exchange or complete while the probate process is ongoing, it can be marketed to the public and a buyer lined up. This minimises the time between vacancy and a new owner.

One of Viewber’s most popular probate services is our marketing package. A Viewber can attend the property to create everything that’s required to get a property online: promotional photos, a floorplan, a virtual tour and an EPC.

Once live, a Viewber can carry out accompanied viewings, host open house events and even conduct live video viewings from the property. Once complete, feedback to an agent or executor is instant.

Pay as you use

We understand probate involves the sensitive balancing of figures, so our service is offered on a ‘pay as you use’ basis. Bookings can be made online, with no need to sign a contract or commit to a minimum spend.

Supporting growth in the probate industry

Sail Homes has made selling probate properties its core proposition. As business accelerated, it partnered with Viewber to ensure UK-wide, on-demand visit and viewing coverage.

“Viewber has been a game-changer for our business,” says the company’s Jamie Cole. “The company’s professional service saves us time and lets us focus on growth within the probate market. We genuinely enjoy working with Viewber. Its support has been instrumental in helping our company expand and thrive.”

If you are managing a probate process or are selling a property that’s part of an estate, contact Viewber for support.