Valuables found during a house clearance still belong to the owner or, if the owner has died, to their estate. They do not belong to the clearance company. A reputable company sets aside cash, jewellery, photographs and personal papers and hands them back to you or the executor, and the safest approach is to search the home yourself first and agree in writing what should happen to anything else that turns up.
Most families worry about this, and with good reason. Older homes in particular can hold money in envelopes, rings in sewing boxes and important letters tucked inside books. From our work in professional house clearance in Glasgow, this guide explains who owns what, where to look, how valuation works and what to do with unusual finds such as firearms, medicines and old computers.
Who owns items found in a deceased person's house?
Everything in the house belongs to the deceased person's estate, from the furniture to the coins in a jar on the mantelpiece. In Scotland the person responsible for the estate is the executor, either named in the will or appointed by the court. The executor usually needs confirmation from the sheriff court, the Scottish equivalent of probate, before they can deal with the estate, and they must account for its value, including anything found during a clearance.
This has a practical meaning for families. Nobody should sell, give away or quietly keep the deceased's belongings before the executor has authority and has agreed. Scots law has a term for interfering with a deceased person's estate without authority, "vicious intromission", and the simplest way to avoid any problem is to take advice from the executor's solicitor before items leave the house. If a relative would like something, ask the executor first.
Where the estate is modest, there is a simpler route. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service explains the process for small estates in Scotland, which covers estates worth £36,000 or less.
What should you search for before a clearance?
Do your own search before the clearance team arrives. Nobody knows the home, or the person, better than the family. Set aside a few hours, work room by room, and check the places people often use to keep things safe:
- coat, jacket and trouser pockets, and old handbags
- between the pages of books, bibles, diaries and photo albums
- biscuit tins, tea caddies, jars and sewing boxes
- the freezer, the back of kitchen cupboards and inside teapots
- under drawers, taped to the underside of furniture and behind drawer backs
- under mattresses, beneath carpets and under loose floorboards
- envelopes in bureaus, sideboards and filing boxes
- the loft, the garage, the shed and any locked cases or boxes
As you go, look out for what matters most to the estate and to the family:
- the will, property deeds, bank and building society books, pension and insurance letters
- share certificates, savings bonds and any records of investments
- cash, jewellery, watches, coins and medals
- photographs, letters, cards and handwritten recipes
- keys, passwords written in notebooks and mobile phones
Our guide on what to keep when clearing a parent's house goes into more detail on the paperwork and keepsakes worth holding on to.
What do house clearance companies do with valuables?
A reputable company treats anything that looks valuable or personal as belonging to the family. In practice, that usually means the team:
- stops and sets the item aside rather than putting it on the van
- keeps cash, jewellery, documents and photographs together, bagged and labelled
- contacts you, or the person who booked the job, to ask what you want done
- hands everything over to you or the executor at the end of the day
Every company works differently, so do not assume. Ask how they handle finds before you book, and choose a company that answers clearly. Our list of questions to ask a house clearance company before hiring them will help.
Ordinary household items that nobody wants are a different matter. Good furniture, clothing and household goods can often be reused, and the rest is sorted for recycling. You can read more about what happens to unwanted items after a house clearance.
Do house clearance companies pay for items?
Some do. A few clearance companies buy items they can resell, or reduce their rate to reflect the value of saleable furniture, antiques or collectables. Others charge for the clearance itself and do not buy anything. Neither approach is wrong, but you should understand which one applies before the work starts.
If a company offers to take items in exchange for a lower rate, ask for the arrangement in writing, including which items are involved and how they were valued. If you are an executor, remember that you need to be able to show what the estate received. Getting an independent valuation first puts you in a much stronger position.
Should you get items valued before a house clearance?
Yes, if you think anything might be worth more than its everyday use value. Do it before the clearance, not after. A local auction house or an independent valuer can look at antiques, paintings, jewellery, clocks, silver, collections of stamps or coins, and older furniture. Many will give an initial view from photographs.
Try not to make assumptions in either direction. Plenty of old furniture has little resale value today, while a box of costume jewellery or a drawer of old medals can turn out to be worth more than expected. A valuation also helps the executor understand what the estate is worth.
What if cash or jewellery is found during the clearance?
Even after a careful search, things still turn up. If cash or jewellery is found on the day:
- The item should be set aside straight away and kept separate from everything else.
- Note where it was found, as it can help the family make sense of other finds.
- Count any cash with two people present, if possible including a family member.
- Hand it to the executor or the person managing the estate, and keep a simple record.
Families are often surprised, and sometimes moved, by what turns up. A ring thought to be lost or a bundle of old letters can mean far more than its financial value.
Unusual and sensitive finds
Firearms or ammunition
Do not handle them. Leave them where they are and contact Police Scotland on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Police Scotland has guidance on firearms and bereavement and can advise on what happens next.
Medicines
Unused medicines should not go in the bin. Take them to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Personal documents
Bank statements, payslips, medical letters and old bills contain personal data that could be misused. Shred what is no longer needed, or use a confidential waste disposal service for larger amounts.
Phones, computers and hard drives
These may hold photographs the family wants to keep, as well as passwords and financial information. Save anything precious first, then make sure the devices are securely wiped or destroyed. Our hard drive and IT disposal service can help with this.
How to agree what happens to finds before the clearance
- Search the house yourself and remove everything you know you want.
- Lock keep items in one room, or label them clearly.
- Tell the company what to look out for, such as a missing ring or a particular document.
- Agree who they should phone if something is found, and keep that person available on the day.
- Ask how items they could resell are treated, and get the answer in writing.
How Jettison Express can help
Jettison Express carries out house clearances and executry clearances for families and solicitors across Glasgow and central Scotland. Before the job, talk us through anything you want kept, set aside or looked out for. We give you an up-front rate before work starts, and our uniformed, insured team calls ahead on the day. We dismantle furniture, lift carpets and finish with a sweep and tidy.
Everything we remove is taken to our Glasgow depot and sorted, and over 90% is reused or recycled. We are a registered waste carrier and leave paperwork once the job is complete. We do not remove asbestos or hazardous waste. We also work regularly to the west of the city, including house clearances in Clydebank.
If you are planning a clearance and want to get it right for the family, contact Jettison Express or call 0333 880 6800.
Frequently asked questions
What do house clearance companies do with valuables?
A reputable company sets aside cash, jewellery, photographs and personal papers rather than removing them, keeps them together and returns them to the family or executor. Practices vary, so ask any company how they handle finds before you book, and agree who they should contact if something turns up.
Do house clearance companies pay for items?
Some companies buy saleable items or reduce their rate to reflect them, while others simply charge for the clearance. If an item is being taken in exchange for a lower rate, get the arrangement in writing, and consider an independent valuation first, especially if you are an executor.
Who owns items found in a deceased person's house?
The estate does. In Scotland the executor is responsible for the estate and usually needs confirmation from the sheriff court before dealing with it. Family members should not sell, give away or keep belongings before the executor has authority and has agreed. Ask the executor's solicitor if unsure.
What should I search for before a clearance?
Look for the will, deeds, bank books, pension and insurance letters, share certificates, cash, jewellery, watches, photographs, letters, keys and phones. Check pockets, handbags, books, tins, the freezer, under drawers and mattresses, envelopes in bureaus, and the loft, garage and shed.
What if cash or jewellery is found during a house clearance?
It should be set aside immediately and kept separate. Note where it was found, count any cash with two people present, and hand everything to the executor or the person managing the estate, keeping a simple record. Agree this process with the company before the clearance starts.
Should I get items valued before a house clearance?
Yes, if anything might be worth more than its everyday use. Ask an auction house or independent valuer to look at antiques, jewellery, paintings, clocks, silver, coins and medals before the clearance. Many can give an initial view from photographs, and it helps the executor value the estate.