When someone dies, their Rightmove account is rarely the first thing on anyone’s mind – but it can matter more than it initially appears. If the deceased had a property listed for sale or to let, that listing is still live. If they were in the process of buying and had saved searches or enquiry history, that information can be useful to the estate. And if the estate includes a property that needs to be sold, Rightmove is where most UK buyers will find it.
This guide covers all three situations: closing or managing the deceased’s Rightmove account, dealing with a property that was already listed, and understanding how Rightmove works when you, as executor, need to sell the estate’s property.
Quick reference:
- Rightmove email: talk-to-us@rightmove.co.uk
- Data protection enquiries: dpo@rightmove.co.uk
- Contact help page: faq.rightmove.co.uk – contacting us
- No dedicated bereavement line: Rightmove has no bereavement team. For account closure, contact them by email.
- Key point: Rightmove does not control property listings directly – estate agents do. Most practical steps involve contacting the estate agent, not Rightmove.
The deceased’s Rightmove account
A MyRightmove account is a personal consumer account used to save properties, set up email alerts, and track enquiries. It is not a financial account – there is no balance, no subscription fee, and no stored payment method. This means there is no financial urgency about closing it, and it will not result in any ongoing charges to the estate.
What a Rightmove account contains
| Account feature | What it holds | Practical relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Saved properties | Properties the deceased bookmarked | Can show which properties they were considering buying |
| Property alerts | Email notifications for new listings matching their search criteria | Will continue to arrive at their email address until closed |
| Saved searches | Search criteria for location, price, type | Context for the estate if a purchase was in progress |
| Enquiry history | A log of estate agent enquiries sent through Rightmove | Useful if the deceased had made offers or was in correspondence |
| Account details | Name, email address, postcode, marketing preferences | Standard personal data |
In most cases, the Rightmove account is low priority. The enquiry history may be worth reviewing – particularly if the deceased was in the process of buying a property and you need to understand what commitments, if any, were made. A Rightmove enquiry is informal (it is a message to an estate agent, not a legal commitment), but the history may help you piece together what was happening.
Rightmove automatically deletes accounts that have not been active for five years, so inaction will eventually result in the account being removed. (Source: Rightmove – frequently asked questions when your account is deleted, last verified June 2026.)
How to close the account
Rightmove does not have a published bereavement process or a dedicated form for reporting a death. The self-service route – sign in, navigate to Account Settings, and select Delete account – will not be available to you unless you have the deceased’s login credentials.
If you do not have their login credentials, the route is email:
Email: talk-to-us@rightmove.co.uk
In your email, explain that the account holder has died, provide the deceased’s full name and the email address registered to their Rightmove account, and request closure. Rightmove may ask you for a copy of the death certificate. For any data-related request (deletion of personal data under UK GDPR), the data protection team can be reached at dpo@rightmove.co.uk.
There is no phone number published for consumer queries; email is the primary contact method.
If the deceased had a property listed for sale
Who controls a for-sale listing
This is the most important thing to understand: Rightmove does not control property listings directly. Properties listed on Rightmove are submitted and managed by estate agents who pay Rightmove for portal access. A listing on Rightmove is the estate agent’s listing – it is the agent who can update, pause, or remove it, not the family of the deceased.
When someone dies with a property listed for sale, the people to contact are:
- The estate agent who is managing the sale
- The estate’s solicitor or conveyancer if the sale had already progressed to conveyancing
The estate agent will need to be informed of the death and given guidance on how to proceed. Options include:
- Withdrawing the listing temporarily while the estate is administered and authority is confirmed
- Continuing the listing if the executor has authority and wishes to proceed with the sale
- Updating the listing status to reflect that the sale is now subject to probate
The estate agent cannot continue to market a property for sale without the cooperation of the estate’s legal representatives. If you are the executor, contact the agent promptly – they will need to know who to deal with going forward and what authority you have.
What happens to the sale if contracts had not been exchanged
Death before exchange of contracts means the sale falls. The contract does not exist yet in a legally binding form, so neither party is obligated to proceed. The buyer can withdraw, and the estate can decide whether to re-list once probate is granted. Any reservation fees paid by the buyer and held by the estate agent may need to be refunded – check with the solicitor.
What happens if contracts had already been exchanged
If contracts were exchanged before the death, the position is more complex. An exchanged contract is legally binding on the estate, not just on the individual. The executor becomes responsible for completing the sale in their capacity as legal representative of the estate. A conveyancing solicitor must be involved at this stage. This is a situation where prompt legal advice is essential.
If the deceased was a landlord with a property listed to let
If the deceased was a landlord and had a rental property advertised on Rightmove, the same principle applies: the listing is managed by a letting agent (or by the landlord themselves if they used a landlord-direct listing service). The letting agent needs to be notified of the death immediately.
The practical steps depend on the property’s situation:
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Property vacant, listed to let, no tenant yet | Instruct the letting agent to withdraw the listing. As executor, decide whether to re-let or sell once probate is granted. |
| Property has an active tenancy | The tenancy continues. It does not end because the landlord has died. The estate inherits the landlord’s obligations and rights under the tenancy agreement. Tenants should be notified and told who to contact for rent payment and maintenance. |
| Property listed to let while also tenanted | Withdraw the listing or put it on hold while the estate’s intentions are clarified. |
The tenancy agreement transfers to the estate. Executors become the temporary landlord and are legally obliged to maintain the property and protect any deposit held in a government-approved deposit scheme (such as the Deposit Protection Service, mydeposits, or TDS). Rent paid by tenants becomes an asset of the estate. (Source: Landlord’s Guild – what happens if a landlord dies unexpectedly, last verified June 2026.)
Selling the estate’s property through Rightmove
For most executors, the most significant interaction with Rightmove is as the platform where the estate’s property will be listed for sale. Rightmove reaches around 90% of all UK property buyers – it is, in practice, where the market is.
You do not list directly on Rightmove yourself. You instruct an estate agent, who lists on your behalf. Here is how the process works for probate sales.
Can you list before probate is granted?
Yes – you can instruct an estate agent and begin marketing the property before the grant of probate is issued. The property can appear on Rightmove while probate is pending. However:
- You cannot complete the sale until the grant of probate (or letters of administration if there is no will) has been issued. The grant is the legal document that gives you authority to transfer the title.
- Buyers must be told that the sale is subject to probate. The estate agent’s particulars should note this. Some buyers are cautious about probate sales because the timeline can be uncertain – probate applications in England and Wales can take 16 weeks or more from submission.
- You can accept offers before probate, but exchange of contracts should not happen until the grant is in hand.
(Sources: HomeOwners Alliance – selling a probate house, last verified June 2026; Zoopla – executor selling property, last verified June 2026.)
Choosing an estate agent for a probate sale
As executor, you choose the estate agent. You have a duty to achieve market value for the property – you cannot sell at a significant undervalue. Beneficiaries can challenge a sale below market value, so get at least two independent valuations before accepting an offer.
Some estate agents specialise in probate sales and will be familiar with the particular requirements: subject-to-probate marketing, working with probate solicitors, and the longer timelines involved. It is worth asking agents about their experience with probate properties before instructing.
What the estate agent will want from you
| Document or information | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Death certificate | Confirms the owner has died |
| Grant of probate or letters of administration | Confirms your authority to deal with the property |
| Title register from HM Land Registry | Confirms ownership and any charges or restrictions |
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) | Legally required for marketing; may already exist if property was recently listed |
| Property details | Address, description, any known issues |
If the property has an existing mortgage, the lender will also need to be notified and kept informed. The mortgage does not disappear on death – it is a debt of the estate. For a full guide to this, see what happens to a mortgage when someone dies.
The Rightmove listing itself
Once you have instructed an estate agent, the listing on Rightmove is their responsibility to create and maintain. You do not need a Rightmove account to sell a property through an agent. The listing will include:
- Property photos and a floorplan (the agent organises these)
- A written description
- The asking price
- The agent’s contact details
If the property is a probate sale, the listing may note this in the details, particularly if there is a longer timeline to exchange.
A note on probate and property: the timeline
Selling a property through probate is rarely quick. The typical sequence in England and Wales runs as follows:
- Instruct a valuer to provide a probate valuation (this figure is used for inheritance tax)
- Apply for the grant of probate (or letters of administration)
- Await the grant – currently averaging around 16 weeks from submission of a complete application, though backlogs vary
- Instruct an estate agent and begin marketing (this can happen earlier, before the grant, if you are confident of a straightforward probate)
- Accept an offer
- Exchange contracts (requires the grant)
- Complete the sale
If inheritance tax is due, it must be paid within six months of the date of death – before the grant is issued. This sometimes creates a cash-flow problem for estates where the main asset is the property: you need to pay tax before you can complete the sale. A probate loan or a payment arrangement with HMRC may be needed. See our inheritance tax guide for more detail.
Summary
Rightmove is a property portal, not a financial institution – so closing a deceased person’s Rightmove account is less pressing than notifying banks or pension providers. The account holds no funds and carries no ongoing charges.
For most executors, the significant questions are practical:
- If a property was listed for sale, contact the estate agent immediately and clarify who has authority to continue the sale
- If the deceased was a landlord, notify the letting agent and ensure tenants know who to contact
- If you are selling the estate’s property, instruct an estate agent (not Rightmove directly) and understand that you can market before probate but cannot complete without the grant
For account closure, email Rightmove at talk-to-us@rightmove.co.uk with the deceased’s name and registered email address, and a copy of the death certificate.
For related guidance, see what happens to a house when someone dies, what happens to a mortgage when someone dies, how to apply for probate, and what happens to digital assets when someone dies. For the companion portal guide, see what to do with a Zoopla account when someone dies – Zoopla is the other major UK property portal and offers additional valuation and sold prices tools useful for executors.