Probate · 7 min read · Published
Donating Belongings to Charity After a Death: A Practical Guide
Practical advice on giving someone's belongings to charity after their death: who has authority, valuations first, which charities collect in East Yorkshire, fire label rules and the tax position.
By Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP, a solicitor in Bridlington who writes every guide himself.
Guides · Probate · No. 11 of 21Published · 7 minutes
When someone dies, their home is often full of a lifetime of possessions. For an executor, deciding what to do with them can be one of the hardest parts of administering an estate. Giving things to charity is a good way to honour someone's memory, but there are practical and legal steps to take first.
When you can give away the deceased's belongings
Only the executor (named in the will) or the administrator (appointed under the intestacy rules when there is no will) has authority to deal with the deceased's possessions. An executor's authority comes from the will itself, but banks, buyers and auction houses will usually want to see the grant of probate. An administrator has no authority until letters of administration are issued. Nobody else has the right to give away, sell or dispose of belongings, however well meant.
In practice, everyday items such as clothing and perishable goods are often dealt with before the grant. For anything of value, or where there is any risk of a dispute between beneficiaries, wait until you have proper legal authority.
Get valuations first
Before donating anything, establish the value of the estate's contents. HMRC requires a record of all assets at the date of death for inheritance tax. That does not mean a formal valuation of every teacup, but items of potential value, such as antiques, jewellery, art and collectables, should be professionally valued.
A probate valuation gives the open-market value at the date of death. It protects you as executor, gives you proper records for HMRC, and stops you giving something worth thousands to a charity shop by mistake.
Charities that collect in East Yorkshire
Several well-known charities offer free collection, which makes donating much easier, particularly if you are clearing a whole house.
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation offers free home collection across East Yorkshire for furniture and electrical items it can sell. It also runs a paid house clearance service, from £400, which can be practical for larger estates. BHF accepts furniture, electricals, clothing, books and homeware.
Sue Ryder
Emmaus Hull and East Riding
Age UK East Riding
Age UK East Riding has charity shops across the East Riding and accepts many kinds of donated items.
Other options
The British Red Cross, the Salvation Army and local charity shops in Bridlington town centre also accept donations. Phone ahead to check what each shop can take, as space varies.
What charities can and cannot accept
Typical charity donation rules
| Usually accepted | Usually refused | |
|---|---|---|
| Clean clothing | Upholstered furniture without fire labels | |
| Furniture with fire safety labels | Mattresses (most charities) | |
| Books and DVDs | Gas appliances | |
| Kitchenware and crockery | Broken electricals | |
| Working electricals (charities safety-test them) | Built-in furniture |
Tax benefits of gifts to charity from an estate
Gifts to charity from an estate are free of inheritance tax: their value comes off the estate before the tax is worked out. There is a further benefit for larger gifts. If the will (or a deed of variation made within two years of the death) gives 10% or more of the net estate to charity, the inheritance tax rate on the rest drops from 40% to 36%. On a large estate the saving can be considerable.
Gift Aid does not apply to belongings given by an estate; it is a relief for money given by living taxpayers. For an estate, the inheritance tax exemption is what matters.
Professional house clearance services
When giving things away item by item is not practical, perhaps because the property must be emptied quickly for sale, or there is simply too much to sort, a professional house clearance service may be the better option.
- BHF clearance service. From £400, the British Heart Foundation will clear a whole house and sell or donate the usable items through its shops.
- Specialist probate clearance companies. Firms that specialise in house clearances after a death.
- Auction houses. Some will clear a house as part of a sale arrangement, combining disposal with the chance to sell items of value.
Getting help with probate
Dealing with someone's possessions is one part of probate, and often the part that feels most personal. If the whole process is too much, Aaron can take it on. He handles every aspect of estate administration, from obtaining the grant of probate to dealing with HMRC and distributing the assets.
Written by Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP · Law of England and Wales as at 21 March 2026 · Ends