Losing someone is difficult enough without having to work through a list of companies that need to be told. Water is one of those accounts that will keep billing quietly in the background unless someone lets the supplier know – so it is worth dealing with in the first week or two, even if it feels like a small thing on a long list.
This guide covers how to notify South East Water of a death, what documents you will need, what happens to the account afterwards, and how long the process typically takes. South East Water serves around 2.2 to 2.3 million people across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and the Thames Valley.
Before you start: Tell Us Once – the government service that notifies HMRC, DWP, DVLA, and the Passport Office in a single step – does not cover water companies. South East Water must be contacted directly, regardless of whether you have used Tell Us Once. (Source: gov.uk – organisations to contact after a death)
Quick reference:
- Phone: 0333 000 0001 (Customer Services Team, Monday–Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–1pm)
- Online form: southeastwater.co.uk/help/contact/notify-us-of-a-bereavement – no login or account details required
- Extra support line: 0800 952 4000 (for customers who need additional help)
How to notify South East Water
South East Water offers two straightforward routes for bereavement notification, and neither requires you to have every document ready before you start.
By phone
Call the Customer Services Team on 0333 000 0001. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, and Saturday, 8am to 1pm. Tell the team you are calling to report a bereavement and they will guide you through what they need – typically the deceased’s name, the property address or account number, and the date of death.
If you or the person you are supporting needs additional time or a more supportive conversation, South East Water’s dedicated customer care line on 0800 952 4000 is available for customers who need extra support.
Via the online form
South East Water’s bereavement notification form is available at southeastwater.co.uk/help/contact/notify-us-of-a-bereavement. It does not require you to log in or have account details to hand – you can start the process with just the deceased’s name and address. The form asks for a few details about you and the account holder, and South East Water takes it from there.
This route is useful if you would rather not make a phone call straight away, or if you are handling several notifications and want to do them at a time that suits you.
| Contact method | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone (Customer Services) | 0333 000 0001 – Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–1pm |
| Extra support line | 0800 952 4000 |
| Online form | southeastwater.co.uk – notify us of a bereavement, no login needed |
A note on verification: the phone number above is corroborated from South East Water’s own bereavement page (via search-indexed content, as a direct page fetch was not obtainable at time of writing) and independently matches multiple third-party bereavement-notification directories. If in doubt, confirm the current number on South East Water’s contact page before calling.
What documents you will need
South East Water’s requirements are lighter than those of a bank or insurer, and you do not need everything ready before you make first contact.
| Item | Why it’s needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deceased’s full name | To locate the account | As it appears on bills |
| Property address | Primary account identifier | Include postcode |
| Account number | Speeds up the process | Found on any water bill; not required to start the online form |
| Date of death | Determines the final bill period | Essential for accurate billing |
| Your name and contact details | For correspondence about the account | Include a forwarding address if different from the property |
| Your relationship to the deceased | Establishes your authority to act | Executor, next of kin, or solicitor |
| Death certificate or interim death certificate | Required before final notifications are sent | A scan or photograph is accepted; you can upload this once you have it, rather than waiting to start the process |
You do not need the death certificate to begin – South East Water accepts an initial notification and follows up once you have it.
What happens to the account
South East Water accounts are tied to the property rather than to an individual, which shapes what happens once you notify them.
If someone is continuing to live at the property
Where a spouse, partner, or other household member remains living at the address, South East Water changes the name on the existing account. Future bills are then issued in the continuing occupant’s name.
If someone new is moving in
If the property is being sold or handed to a new occupant who was not previously on the account, South East Water closes the existing account, sends a final bill to the executor, and opens a new account for the incoming resident.
If the property is empty
Where no one is remaining at the property during estate administration, South East Water closes the account and sends a final bill to the executor. As with most water suppliers, ask directly about their current policy on standing charges for unoccupied properties – some companies waive or suspend charges during probate, others continue billing throughout. Confirm this when you notify them, since supplier policies on this point change from time to time.
Direct debits
Do not cancel a direct debit until the final bill has arrived and shows a zero balance. Cancelling early can leave an outstanding amount that then has to be settled separately, creating extra administration. For broader guidance, see our guide to what happens to direct debits when someone dies.
Final bill and refunds
Once the account is closed or transferred, South East Water issues a final bill covering the period up to the date of death. If the account was in credit, the balance is refunded to the estate. Ask about any credit balance specifically when you notify them, rather than assuming it will be sent automatically.
Probate and water accounts
Probate is not required to close or transfer a South East Water account. Water companies are service providers, not asset holders, so there is no legal requirement to produce a grant of probate before the account can be closed or transferred.
South East Water may ask for a death certificate before sending final notifications, and may request evidence of your authority to act – such as a grant of probate or letters of administration – before releasing a credit refund to the estate. For a routine notification with no credit balance involved, this is rarely necessary.
Any outstanding balance on the account is a debt of the estate, not a personal liability of the executor or a family member, unless they held the account jointly with the deceased. For guidance on the probate process itself, see gov.uk/applying-for-probate.
How long does it take?
A straightforward South East Water notification – where the account is transferring to a continuing occupant, or closing because the property is empty or being sold – typically takes two to four weeks from notification to final bill.
The main variables are:
- Whether the property is occupied or empty
- Whether the death certificate is provided promptly
- Whether there is a credit balance to resolve
Keep a note of the date you notified South East Water and any reference number you are given. If the final bill has not arrived within four weeks of providing all the required information, follow up on 0333 000 0001.
Things to watch out for
You do not need to wait for the death certificate to start the process. South East Water’s online form and phone line will take an initial notification without it – you can send a scan or photograph of the death certificate once you have it.
The online form does not require a login. Unlike some suppliers, South East Water’s bereavement form is designed to be completed without account credentials, which is useful if you do not have easy access to the deceased’s paperwork straight away.
Ask specifically about standing charges on an empty property. If the property will sit empty for a while during estate administration, ask South East Water directly whether standing charges continue or are suspended – policies vary by supplier and can change, so it is worth confirming rather than assuming.
Keep the direct debit running until the final bill is settled. Cancelling it early can leave a balance that needs to be paid separately, adding extra steps at an already difficult time.
Summary
To notify South East Water of a death, call the Customer Services Team on 0333 000 0001 (Monday–Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–1pm) or use the online form at southeastwater.co.uk/help/contact/notify-us-of-a-bereavement, which does not require a login.
Have ready the deceased’s name, the property address or account number, the date of death, and your contact details as executor or next of kin. A death certificate or interim death certificate is needed before final notifications are sent, but you can start the process without it. South East Water will issue a final bill once the account is closed or transferred; probate is not required to close the account itself.
For guidance on water company notification processes in general – including contact details for all UK suppliers – see our guide to notifying your water company after a death. For other water company guides, see our Southern Water bereavement guide and Affinity Water bereavement guide, both of which cover neighbouring parts of the South East. For direct debit guidance, see what happens to direct debits when someone dies. For a complete list of organisations to notify after a death, see our what to do when someone dies guide.