When the public sector is unable to identify or locate the next of kin of a deceased individual, a probate genealogist may be appointed to trace any missing heirs. In this case, a council contacted us to carry out research into the estate. After locating the beneficiaries, we were asked to manage the property which started a full house clearance.
Our clearance team has encountered everything from hidden treasures to truly shocking discoveries. This estate turned out to be a hoarder property and during the process we uncovered bags filled with hidden money among the clutter.
Hidden money in Mrs A’s estate
Mrs A passed away in 2026, leaving an unclaimed estate valued at over £200,000. During our investigation to identify and locate her next of kin, we were advised in advance about the condition of her property. When inspecting the property, we discovered the house was cluttered with rubbish. Our clearance team could only access the top floor of the property through a window due to the unusable staircase.
Inside, our team found bags containing coins, old English banknotes, and odd pieces of jewellery. We also discovered a panga machete and some military memorabilia which we later learned that her father had fought in Burma during the Second World War.
During the clearance, we located a will belonging to Mrs A. When our clearance team inspects a property, they look for any documentation, photos or jewellery that may have value to their family or the estate. In this situation, finding the will required us to trace and contact the named executors.
Despite the neglected status of the property. Conversations with neighbours revealed that Mrs A appearance was put together and tidy. It was neighbours who requested several welfare checks which sadly led to the discovery of her passing.
What is hoarding?
Hoarding is a mental health condition where an individual has difficulty of letting possessions go regardless of value. Over time, this can lead to an accumulation of items that can overcrowd their living space and impact their wellbeing. People may develop hoarding behaviours for a variety of reasons, but three common factors include:
- The person may have a strong emotional attachment to their belongings, associating them to memories or people.
- They may worry that the item will be needed or useful in the future.
- They may experience difficulties with organisation and decision‑
Saving or hiding money?
Our team found several bags filled with old English banknotes and coins. It’s not unusual for older generations to hide physical cash around their homes for emergencies or safe keeping. Whereas younger generations are accustomed to online banking rather than using physical money. Covid-19 accelerated the digitalisation of banking even further with accessing funds instantly online and places switching to card payments only to avoid spreading the virus. According to the UK Finance Payment Markets 2025 report, cash transactions have declined to just 9% of all payments.
Old banknotes stopped being legal tender in September 2022. They can no longer be spent in shops, but they can still be exchanged at banks and post offices. Mrs. A must have been accumulating her money for a long time and either forgot she had the notes or chose not to exchange them. The money found amounted to:
- £3,000 in old banknotes
- £500 in old pound coins
- £1,000 in coins and change.
Final thoughts
An individual living in a hoarding property may not be immediately obvious. People can accumulate a wide variety of items, ranging from everyday objects to old antiques. Our clearance team has worked with many hoarded properties and is experienced in restoring them to a clean and safe condition to sell on the property. For more articles like this, please read our other blogs.
