This information is not mandatory, but does speed up the process for water companies if you have it to hand. We do need the deceased’s full name, the registered address on the account, and their date of birth. 

It is better to provide a meter reading as close to the date of death as possible, to avoid being charged incorrectly. If you don’t have one, the water provider will take an estimate.

For the vast majority of water providers, sole accounts are closed. Joint accounts are usually transferred under the name of the living account holder. 

The Settld form will ask for the expected handover date and details of the landlord, letting agent, or local authority/housing association. If you don’t have this information to hand, you can provide it to the water provider at a later date. Some water providers do need the handover date to close the account – we will let you know which ones. 

Depending on the water provider, the account will either be closed and opened in the name of the person living in the property. Or the existing account will be transferred into their name. You will be able to provide this detail in the Settld form. 

If the person who died owned the property, it is likely that you will need to apply for Probate or a Letter of Administration. Whilst you are going through this process, the water provider will transfer the existing account into an Executor’s account. The water supply will remain on, and will not be charged to the account, so long as the usage remains at an acceptable minimum. Once you have Probate or a Letter of Administration, please contact the energy provider directly to let them know.

Thresholds are set by each water provider, and Settld does not have direct control over this process. If you need this information, please call the company.

Please contact the water provider directly to let them know.

Yes. However, if there is no will, some water providers will ask a “Next of Kin” to act on behalf of the person who died. Please check who the immediate next of kin should be here, as per the rules of Intestacy.

Yes. This information can be provided in the Settld dashboard or sent by post to the person responsible for the account.

Most companies take up to 6 weeks to update their systems. Unfortunately, timeframes are set by each organisation, and Settld does not have direct control over this process. Wherever possible, Settld works with companies to provide a better bereavement service, so please let us know if problems persist and we will flag this to the water provider for you.